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JESSICA  PEiXQTTO 
3864-1941 


THE  RED 
FAIRY  BOOK 

EDITED  BY 

ANDREW  LANG 


Author  of 

THE  BLUE  FAIRY  BOOK,  THE  YELLOW  FAIRY  BOOK 

THE  GREEN  FAIRY  BOOK,  ETC.,  ETC. 


WITH  NUMEROUS  ILLUSTRATIONS  BY 

H.  J.  FORD  and  LANCELOT  SPEED 


New  york 
GROSSET   &    DUNLAP 

PUBLISHERS 

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GIFT 


"SO 

MASTER  BILLY  TREMAYNE  MILES, 

A  PROFOUND  STUDENT, 

YET 

aST  AMIABLE  CKBiSSO. 


PREFACE. 

In  a  second  gleaning  of  the  fields  of  fairyland  we  cannot 
expect  to  find  a  second  Perr^ult,  but  there  are  good  stories 
enough  left,  and  it  is  hoped  that  some  in  the  Red  Fairy- 
Book  may  have  the  attraction  of  being  less  familiar  than 
many  of  the  old  friends.  The  tales  have  been  translated, 
or,  in  the  case  of  Madame  d'Aulnoy's  long  stories,  adapted, 
by  Mrs.  Hunt  from  the  Norse,  by  Miss  Minnie  Wright  from 
Madame  d'Aulnoy,  by  Mrs.  Lang  and  Miss  Bruce  from 
other  French  sources,  by  Miss  May  Sellar,  Miss  Farquhar- 
son,  and  Miss  Blackley  from  the  German,  while  the 
story  of  "  Sigurd  "  is  condensed  by  the  editor  from  Mr.  Will- 
iam Morris'  prose  version  of  the  "  Volsunga  Saga."  The 
editor  has  to  thank  his  friend,  M.  Charles  Marelles,  for  per- 
mission to  reproduce  his  versions  of  the  "Pied  Piper,"  of 
"  Drakestail,"  and  of  "Little  Golden  Hood"  from  the 
French,  and  M.  Henri  Carnoy  for  the  same  privilege  in  re- 
gard to  "  The  Six  Sillies  "  from  "  La  Tradition." 

Lady  Frances  Balfour  has  kindly  copied  an  old  version 
of  "Jack  and  the  Beanstalk,"  and  Messrs.  Smith  &  Elder 
have  permitted  the  publication  of  two  of  Mr.  Ralston's  ver- 
sions from  the  Russian,  A.  L. 


M141174 


CONTENTS. 


FAGS 

The  Twelve  Dancing  Princesses, 1 

The  Princess  Mayblossom, 13 

Soria  Moria  Castle,                      ,» 30 

The  Death  op  Koshchei  the  Deathless,  ....  42 

The  Black  Thief  and  Knight  of  the  Glen,    ...  54 

The  Master-Thief, 66 

Brother  and  Sister, 83 

Princess  Rosette,           90 

The  Enchanted  Fig, 106 

The  Norka, 117 

The  Wonderful  Birch, 124 

Jack  and  the  Beanstalk, 135 

The  Little  Good  Mouse 147 

Graciosa  and  Percinet,         ....                        .  159 
The  Three  Princesses  of  Whtteland,       .        .       .        .177 

The  Voice  of  Death, 184 

The  Six  Sillies, 187 

Kari  Woodengown, 190 

Drakestail, 203 

The  Ratcatcher 209 

True  History  of  Little  Goldenhood,        .        .        .        .216 

The  Golden  Branch, 220 

The  Three  Dwarfs,       .        .        * 239 

Dapplegrim, 247 

The  Enchanted  Canary, 258 

The  Twelve  Brothers, 276 

Bapunzel, 283 

v 


VI  CONTENTS. 

v  PAGB 

The  Nettle  Spinner,    ......        0        .  287 

Farmer  Weatherbeard, 294 

Mother  Holle, 304 

Minnikin, 307 

Bushy  Bride, 323 

Snowdrop 330 

The  Golden  Goose ,        .        .        .  341 

The  Seven  Foals,            346 

The  Marvelous  Musician,     .••.,..  854 

The  Story  op  Sigurd,                   0       0       0       0       .       .  mi 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 


THE  TWELVE  DANCING  PKINCESSES. 


Once  upon  a  time  there  lived  in  the  village  of  Montign- 
ies-sur-Roc  a  little  cow-boy  without  either  father  or  mother. 
His  real  name  was  Michael,  but  he  was  always  called  the  Star 
Gazer,  because  when  he  drove  his  cows  over  the  common  to 
seek  for  pasture,  he  went  along  with  his  head  in  the  air, 
gazing  at  nothing.  As  he  had  a  white  skin,  blue  eyes,  and 
hair  that  curled  all  over  his  head,  the  village  girls  used  to 
cry  after  him,  "  Well,  Star  Gazer,  what  are  you  doing  ?  "  and 
Michael  would  answer,  "  Oh,  nothing,"  and  go  on  his  way 
without  even  turning  to  look  at  them. 

The  fact  was,  he  thought  them  very  ugly,  with  their  sun- 
burnt necks,  their  great  red  hands,  their  coarse  petticoats, 
and  their  wooden  shoes.  He  had  heard  that  somewhere  in 
the  world  there  were  girls  whose  necks  were  white  and  whose 
hands  were  small,  who  were  always  dressed  in  the  finest  silks 
and  laces,  and  were  called  princesses,  and  while  his  compan- 
ions around  the  fire  saw  nothing  in  the  flames  but  common 
every-day  fancies,  he  dreamed  that  he  had  the  happiness  to 
marry  a  princess. 

II. 

One  morning  about  the  middle  of  August,  just  at  midday 
when  the  sun  was  hottest,  Michael  ate  his  dinner  of  a  piece 
of  dry  bread,  and  went  to  sleep  under  an  oak.  And  while 
he  slept  he  dreamed  that  there  appeared  before  him  a  beau- 
tiful lady,  dressed  in  a  robe  of  cloth  of  gold,  who  said  to 
him :  "  Go  to  the  castle  of  Beloeil,  and  there  you  shall  marry 
a  princess." 


a  -  THE    RED    FAIRY    BOOK. 

That  evening  the  little  cow-boy,  who  had  been  thinking  a 
great  deal  about  the  advice  of  the  lady  in  the  golden  dress, 
told  his  dream  to  the  farm  people.  But,  as  was  natural, 
they  only  laughed  at  the  Star  Gazer. 

The  next  day  at  the  same  hour  he  went  to  sleep  again 
under  the  same  tree.  The  lady  appeared  to  him  a  second 
time,  and  said :  "  Go  to  the  castle  of  Beloeil,  and  you  shall 
marry  a  princess." 

In  the  evening  Michael  told  his  friends  that  he  had 
dreamed  the  same  dream  again,  but  they  only  laughed  at 
him  more  than  before.  "  Never  mind,"  he  thought  to  him- 
self ;  "  if  the  lady  appears  to  me  a  third  time,  I  will  do  as 
she  tells  me." 

The  following  day,  to  the  great  astonishment  of  all  the 
village,  about  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  a  voice  was  heard 
singing : 

"Raleo,  rale6, 
How  the  cattle  go  !  " 

It  was  the  little  cow-boy  driving  his  herd  back  to  the 
byre. 

The  farmer  began  to  scold  him  furiously,  but  he  answered 
quietly,  "  I  am  going  away,"  made  his  clothes  into  a  bundle, 
said  good-by  to  all  his  friends,  and  boldly  set  out  to  seek 
his    fortunes. 

There  was  great  excitement  through  all  the  village,  and 
on  the  top  of  the  hill  the  people  stood  holding  their  sides 
with  laughing,  as  they  watched  the  Star  Gazer  trudging 
bravely  along  the  valley  with  his  bundle  at  the  end  of  his 
stick. 

It  was  enough  to  make  anyone  laugh,  certainly. 

ni. 

It  was  well  known  for  full  twenty  miles  round  that  there 
lived  in  the  castle  of  Belceil  twelve  princesses  of  wonderful 
beauty,  and  as  proud  as  they  were  beautiful,  and  who  were 
besides  so  very  sensitive  and  of  such  truly  royal  blood  that 
they  would  have  felt  at  once  the  presence  of  a  pea  in  their 
beds,  even  if  the  mattresses  had  been  laid  over  it. 

It  was  whispered  about  that  they  led  exactly  the  lives 
that  princesses  ought  to  lead,  sleeping  far  into  the  morning, 


THE    RED    FAIRY   BOOK.  3 

and  never  getting  up  till  midday.  They  had  twelve  beds 
all  in  the  same  room,  but  what  was  very  extraordinary  was 
the  fact  that  though  they  were  locked  in  by  triple  bolts,  every 
morning  their  satin  shoes  were  found  worn  into  holes. 

When  they  were  asked  what  they  had  been  doing  all  night, 
they  always  answered  that  they  had  been  asleep;  and,  in- 
deed, no  noise  was  ever  heard  in  the  room,  yet  the  shoes 
could  not  wear  themselves  out  alone ! 

At  last  the  Duke  of  Beloail  ordered  the  trumpet  to  be 
sounded,  and  a  proclamation  to  be  made  that  whoever  could 
discover  how  his  daughters  wore  out  their  shoes  should 
choose  one  of  them  for  his  wife. 

On  hearing  the  proclamation  a  number  of  princes  ar- 
rived at  the  castle  to  try  their  luck.  They  watched  all  night 
behind  the  open  door  of  the  princesses,  but  when  the  morn- 
ing came  they  had  all  disappeared,  and  no  one  could  tell 
what  had  become  of  them. 

IV. 

When  he  reached  the  castle,  Michael  went  straight  to  the 
gardener  and  offered  his  services.  Now,  it  happened  that 
the  garden  boy  had  just  been  sent  away,  and  though  the 
Star  Gazer  did  not  look  very  sturdy,  the  gardener  agreed 
to  take  him,  as  he  thought  that  his  pretty  face  and  golden 
curls  would  please  the  princesses. 

The  first  thing  he  was  told  was  that  when  the  princesses 
got  up  he  was  to  present  each  one  with  a  bouquet,  and 
Michael  thought  if  he  had  nothing  more  unpleasant  to  do 
than  that  he  should  get  on  very  well. 

Accordingly  he  placed  himself  behind  the  door  of  the 
princesses'  room,  with  the  twelve  bouquets  in  a  basket.  He 
gave  one  to  each  of  the  sisters,  and  they  took  them  without 
even  deigning  to  look  at  the  lad,  except  Lina,  the  youngest, 
who  fixed  her  large  black  eyes,  as  soft  as  velvet,  on  him,  and 
exclaimed,  "  Oh,  how  pretty  he  is — our  new  flower  boy !  " 
The  rest  all  burst  out  laughing,  and  the  eldest  pointed  out 
that  a  princess  ought  never  to  lower  herself  by  looking  at  a 
garden  boy. 

Now  Michael  knew  quite  well  what  had  happened  to  all 
the  princes,  but  notwithstanding,  the  beautiful  eyes  of  the 


4 


THE   RED    FAIRY    BOOK. 


Princess  Lina  inspired  him  with  a  violent  longing  to  try  his 
fate.  Unhappily  he  did  not  dare  to  come  forward,  being 
afraid  that  he  should  only  be  jeered  at,  or  even  turned  away 
from  the  castle  on  account  of  his  impudence. 

V. 


Nevertheless,  the  Star  Gazer  had  another  dream.       The 
lady  in  the  golden  dress  appeared  to  him  once  more,  holding 

in  one  hand  two  young 
laurel  trees,  a  cherry  laurel 
and  a  rose  laurel,  in  the 
other  hand  a  little  golden 
rake,  a  little  golden  bucket, 
and  a  silken  towel.  She 
thus  addressed  him: 

"Plant  these  two  laurels 
in  large  pots,  rake  them 
over  with  the  rake,  water 
them  with  the  bucket,  and 
wipe  them  with  the  towel. 
When  they  have  grown  as 
tall  as  a  girl  of  fifteen,  say 
to  each  of  them,  '  My  beau- 
tiful laurel,  with  the  golden 
rake  I  have  raked  you,  with 
the  golden  bucket  I  have 
watered  you,  with  the  silken 
towel  I  have  wiped  you.' 
Then,  after  that,  ask  anything  you  choose,  and  the  laurels 
will  give  it  to  you." 

Michael  thanked  the  lady  in  the  golden  dress,  and  when 
he  woke  he  found  the  two  laurel  bushes  beside  him.  So 
he  carefully  obeyed  the  orders  he  had  been  given  by  the  lady. 
The  trees  grew  very  fast,  and  when  they  were  as  tall  as 
a  girl  of  fifteen  he  said  to  the  cherry  laurel,  "  My  lovely 
cherry  laurel,  with  the  golden  rake  I  have  raked  thee,  with 
the  golden  bucket  I  have  watered  thee,  with  the  silken  towel 
I  have  wiped  thee.  Teach  me  how  to  become  invisible." 
Then  there  instantly  appeared  on  the  laurel  a  pretty  flower, 
which  Michael  gathered  and  stuck  into  his  button-hole. 


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THE   RED    FAIRY    BOOK.  5 

VI. 

That  evening  when  the  princesses  went  upstairs  to  bed,  he 
followed  them  barefoot,  so  that  he  might  make  no  noise,  and 
hid  himself  under  one  of  the  twelve  beds,  so  as  not  to  take 
up  much  room. 

The  princesses  began  at  once  to  open  their  wardrobes  and 
boxes.  They  took  out  of  them  the  most  magnificent  dresses, 
which  they  put  on  before  their  mirrors,  and  when  they  had 
finished,  turned  themselves  all  round  to  admire  their  ap- 
pearances. 

Michael  could  see  nothing  from  his  hiding-place,  but  he 
could  hear  everything,  and  he  listened  to  the  princesses 
laughing  and  jumping  with  pleasure.  At  last  the  eldest 
said,  "  Be  quick,  my  sisters,  our  partners  will  be  impatient." 
At  the  end  of  an  hour,  when  the  Star  Gazer  heard  no  more 
noise,  he  peeped  out  and  saw  the  twelve  sisters  in  splendid 
garments,  with  their  satin  shoes  on  their  feet,  and  in  their 
hands  the  bouquets  he  had  brought  them. 

"  Are  you  ready  ?  "  asked  the  eldest. 

"  Yes,"  replied  the  other  eleven  in  chorus,  and  they  took 
their  places  one  by  one  behind  her. 

Then  the  eldest  princess  clapped  her  hands  three  times 
and  a  trap-door  opened.  All  the  princesses  disappeared  down 
a  secret  staircase,  and  Michael  hastily  followed  them. 

As  he  was  following  on  the  steps  of  the  Princess  Lina, 
he  carelessly  trod  on  her  dress. 

"  There  is  somebody  behind  me,"  cried  the  princess ;  "  they 
are  holding  my  dress." 

"You  foolish  thing,"  said  her  eldest  sister,  "you  are 
always  afraid  of  something.  It  is  only  a  nail  which  caught 
you." 

VII. 

They  went  down,  down,  down,  till  at  last  they  came  to  a 
passage  with  a  door  at  one  end,  which  was  only  fastened  with 
a  latch.  The  eldest  princess  opened  it,  and  they  found  them- 
selves immediately  in  a  lovely  little  wood,  where  the  leaves 
were  spangled  with  drops  of  silver  which  shone  in  the  bril- 
liant light  of  the  moon. 

They  next  crossed  another  wood  where  the  leaves  were 


6  THE    RED    FAIRY    BOOK. 

sprinkled  with  gold,  and  after  that  another  still,  where  the 
leaves  glittered  with  diamonds. 

At  last  the  Star  Gazer  perceived  a  large  lake,  and  on  the 
shore  of  the  lake  twelve  little  boats  with  awnings,  in  which 
were  seated  twelve  princes,  who,  grasping  their  oars,  awaited 
the  princesses. 

Each  princess  entered  one  of  the  boats,  and  Michael 
slipped  into  that  which  held  the  youngest.  The  boats  glided 
along  rapidly,  but  Lina's,  from  being  heavier,  was  always  be- 
hind the  rest.  "  We  never  went  so  slowly  before,"  said  the 
princess ;  "  what  can  be  the  reason  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know,"  answered  the  prince.  "  I  assure  you  I  am 
rowing  as  hard  as  I  can." 

On  the  other  side  of  the  lake  the  garden  boy  saw  a  beau- 
tiful castle  splendidly  illuminated,  whence  came  the  lively 
music  of  fiddles,  kettle-drums,  and  trumpets. 

In  a  moment  they  touched  land,  and  the  company  jumped 
out  of  the  boats;  and  the  princes,  after  having  securely  fas- 
tened their  barks,  gave  their  arms  to  the  princesses  and  con- 
ducted them  to  the  castle. 

VIII. 

Michael  followed,  and  entered  the  ball-room  in  their  train. 
Everywhere  were  mirrors,  lights,  flowers,  and  damask  hang- 
ings. 

The  Star  Gazer  was  quite  bewildered  at  the  magnificence 
of  the  sight. 

He  placed  himself  out  of  the  way  in  a  corner,  admiring 
the  grace  and  beauty  of  the  princesses.  Their  loveliness  was 
of  every  kind.  Some  were  fair  and  some  were  dark;  some 
had  chestnut  hair,  or  curls  darker  still,  and  some  had  golden 
locks.  Never  were  so  many  beautiful  princesses  seen  to- 
gether at  one  time,  but  the  one  whom  the  cow-boy  thought 
the  most  beautiful  and  the  most  fascinating  was  the  little 
princess  with  the  velvet  eyes. 

With  what  eagerness  she  danced !  leaning  on  her  partner's 
shoulder  she  swept  by  like  a  whirlwind.  Her  cheeks  flushed, 
her  eyes  sparkled,  and  it  was  plain  that  she  loved  dancing 
better  than  anything  else. 

The   poor  boy  envied  those  handsome  young  men   with 


THE    RED    FAIRY    BOOK.  7 

whom  she  danced  so  gracefully,  but  he  did  not  know  how 
little  reason  he  had  to  be  jealous  of  them. 

The  young  men  were  really  the  princes  who,  to  the  number 
of  fifty,  at  least,  had  tried  to  steal  the  princesses'  secret.  The 
princesses  had  made  them  drink  something  of  a  philter,  which 
froze  the  heart  and  left  nothing  but  the  love  of  dancing. 

IX. 

They  danced  on  till  the  shoes  of  the  princesses  were  worn 
into  holes.  When  the  cock  crowed  the  third  time  the  fiddles 
stopped,  and  a  delicious  supper  was  served  by  negro  boys, 
consisting  of  sugared  orange  flowers,  crystallized  rose  leaves, 
powdered  violets,  cracknels,  wafers  and  other  dishes,  which 
are,  as  everyone  knows,  the  favorite  food  of  princesses. 

After  supper  the  dancers  all  went  back  to  their  boats,  and 
this  time  the  Star  Gazer  entered  that  of  the  eldest  princess. 
They  crossed  again  the  wood  with  the  diamond-spangled 
leaves,  the  wood  with  gold-sprinkled  leaves,  and  the  wood 
whose  leaves  glittered  with  drops  of  silver,  and  as  a  proof 
of  what  he  had  seen,  the  boy  broke  a  small  branch  from  a  tree 
in  the  last  wood.  Lina  turned  as  she  heard  the  noise  made 
by  the  breaking  of  the  branch. 

"  What  was  that  noise  ?  "  she  said. 

"  It  was  nothing,"  replied  her  eldest  sister ;  "  it  was  only 
the  screech  of  the  barn-owl  that  roosts  in  one  of  the  turrets 
of  the  castle." 

While  she  was  speaking  Michael  managed  to  slip  in  front, 
and  running  up  the  staircase,  he  reached  the  princesses' 
room  first.  He  flung  open  the  window,  and  sliding  down 
the  vine  which  climbed  up  the  wall,  found  himself  in  the  gar- 
den just  as  the  sun  was  beginning  to  rise,  and  it  was  time 
for  him  to  set  to  his  work. 


That  day,  when  he  made  up  the  bouquets,  Michael  hid  the 
branch  with  the  silver  drops  in  the  nosegay  intended  for  the 
youngest  princess. 

When  Lina  discovered  it  she  was  much  surprised.  How- 
ever, she  said  nothing  to  her  sisters,  but  as  she  met  the  boy 


8  THE    RED    FAIRY    BOOK. 

by  accident  while  she  was  walking  under  the  shade  of  the 
elms,  she  suddenly  stopped  as  if  to  speak  to  him ;  then,  alter- 
ing her  mind,  went  on  her  way. 

The  same  evening  the  twelve  sisters  went  again  to  the 
ball,  and  the  Star  Gazer  again  followed  them  and  crossed 
the  lake  in  Lina's  boat.  This  time  it  was  the  prince  who 
complained  that  the  boat  seemed  very  heavy. 

"  It  is  the  heat,"  said  the  princess.  "  I,  too,  have  been  feel- 
ing very  warm." 

During  the  ball  she  looked  everywhere  for  the  gardener's 
boy,  but  she  never  saw  him. 

As  they  came  back,  Michael  gathered  a  branch  from  the 
wood  with  the  gold-spangled  leaves,  and  now  it  was  the  eldest 
princess  who  heard  the  noise  that  it  made  in  breaking. 

"  It  is  nothing,"  said  Lina ;  "  only  the  cry  of  the  owl  which 
roosts  in  the  turrets  of  the  castle." 

XI. 

As  soon  as  she  got  up  she  found  the  branch  in  her  bouquet. 
When  the  sisters  went  down  she  stayed  a  little  behind  and 
said  to  the  cow-boy :    "  Where  does  this  branch  come  from  ?  " 

"  Your  royal  highness  knows  well  enough,"  answered  Mi- 
chael. 

"So  you  have  followed  us?  " 

"  Yes,  princess." 

"  How  did  you  manage  it  ?  We  never  saw  you." 

"  I  hid  myself,"  replied  the  Star  Gazer  quietly. 

The  princess  was  silent  a  moment,  and  then  said: 

"  You  know  our  secret ! — keep  it.  Here  is  the  reward  ot 
your  discretion."     And  she  flung  the  boy  a  purse  of  gold. 

"  I  do  not  sell  my  silence,"  answered  Michael,  and  he  went 
away  without  picking  up  the  purse. 

For  three  nights  Lina  neither  saw  nor  heard  anything 
extraordinary;  on  the  fourth  she  heard  a  rustling  among 
the  diamond-spangled  leaves  of  the  wood.  That  day  there 
was  a  branch  of  the  tree  in  her  bouquet. 

She  took  the  Star  Gazer  aside  and  said  to  him  in  a  harsh 
voice :  "  You  know  what  price  my  father  has  promised  to 
pay  for  our  secre*  *  " 

"  I  know,  princess,"    answered  Michael. 


THE   BED   FAIEY   BOOK. 


9 


"  Don't  you  mean  to  tell  him  ?  " 

"That  is  not  my  intention." 

"  Are  you  afraid  ?  " 

"  No,  princess." 

"  What  makes  you  so  discreet,  then  ?  " 

But  Michael  was  silent. 

XII. 

Lina's  sisters  had  seen  her  talking  to  the  little  garden  boy, 
and  jeered  at  her  for  it. 

"What  prevents  your  marrying  him?"  asked  the  eldest; 


iii 

|U8 

1189 

l| 

ymmm 

in 

flpj 

^gw^^ra 

J  '  K1 

,r  ™  Jjrfl  iIlagBM>  — ^— — jr^fe 

t=#3f&^ 

"you  would  become  a  gardener,  too;  it  is  a  charming  pro- 
fession. You  could  live  in  a  cottage  at  the  end  of  the  park, 
and  help  your  husband  draw  up  water  from  the  well,  and 
when  we  get  up  you  could  bring  us  our  bouquets." 

The  Princess  Lina  was  very  angry,  and  when  the  Star 
Gazer  presented  her  bouquet,  she  received  it  in  a  disdainful 
manner. 

Michael  behaved  most  respectfully.     He  never  raised  his 


10  THE   RED    FAIRY   BOOK. 

eyes  to  her,  but  nearly  all  day  she  felt  him  at  her  side  with- 
out ever  seeing  him. 

One  day  she  made  up  her  mind  to  tell  everything  to  her 
eldest  sister. 

"  What !  "  said  she,  "  this  rogue  knows  our  secret,  and  you 
never  told  me!     I  must  lose  no  time  in  getting  rid  of  him." 

"But  how?" 

"  Why,  by  having  him  taken  to  the  tower  with  the  dun- 
geons, of  course." 

For  this  was  the  way  that  in  old  times  beautiful  princesses 
got  rid  of  the  people  who  knew  too  much. 

But  the  astonishing  part  of  it  was  that  the  youngest  sis- 
ter did  not  seem  at  all  to  relish  this  method  of  stopping  the 
mouth  of  the  gardener's  boy,  who,  after  all,  had  said  nothing 
to  their  father. 

XIII. 

It  was  agreed  that  the  question  should  be  submitted  to  the 
other  ten  sisters.  All  were  on  the  side  of  the  eldest.  Then 
the  youngest  sister  declared  if  they  laid  a  finger  on  the  little 
garden  boy,  she  would  herself  go  and  tell  their  father  the  se- 
cret of  the  holes  in  their  shoes. 

At  last  it  was  decided  that  Michael  should  be  put  to  the 
test;  that  they  would  take  him  to  the  ball,  and  at  the  end 
of  supper  would  give  him  the  philter  which  was  to  enchant 
him  like  the  rest. 

They  sent  for  the  Star  Gazer  and  asked  him  how  he  had 
contrived  to  learn  their  secret;  but  still  he  remained  silent. 

Then,  in  commanding  tones,  the  eldest  sister  gave  him 
the  order  they  had  agreed  upon. 

He  only  answered: 

"  I  will  obey." 

He  had  really  been  present,  invisible,  at  the  council  of  the 
princesses,  and  had  heard  all;  but  he  had  made  up  his  mind 
to  drink  of  the  philter  and  sacrifice  himself  to  the  happiness 
of  her  he  loved. 

Not  wishing,  however,  to  cut  a  poor  figure  at  the  ball  by 
the  side  of  the  other  dancers,  he  went  at  once  to  the  laurels, 
and  said : 

"  My  lovely  rose  laurel,    with  the  golden  rake  I  have  raked 


THE   RED    FAIRY   BOOK.  11 

thee,  with  the  golden  bucket  I  have  watered  thee,  with  the 
silken  towel  I  have  dried  thee.    Dress  me  like  a  prince." 

A  beautiful  pink  flower  appeared.  Michael  gathered  it,  and 
found  himself  in  a  moment  clothed  in  velvet,  which  was  as 
black  as  the  eyes  of  the  little  princess,  with  a  cap  to  match,  a 
diamond  aigrette,  and  a  blossom  of  the  rose  laurel  in  his  but- 
ton-hole. 

.  Thus  dressed,  he  presented  himself  that  evening  before  the 
Duke  of  Belceil,  and  obtained  leave  to  try  and  discover  his 
daughters'  secret.  He  looked  so  distinguished  that  hardly 
anyone  would  have  known  who  he  was. 

XIV. 

The  twelve  princesses  went  upstairs  to  bed.  Michael  fol- 
lowed them,  and  waited  behind  the  open  door  till  they  gave 
the  signal  for  departure. 

This  time  he  did  not  cross  in  Lina's  boat.  He  gave  his 
arm  to  the  eldest  sister,  danced  with  each  in  turn,  and  was 
so  graceful  that  everyone  was  delighted  with  him.  At  last 
the  time  came  for  him  to  dance  with  the  little  princess.  She 
found  him  the  best  partner  in  the  world,  but  he  did  not 
dare  to  speak  a  single  word  to  her. 

When  he  was  taking  her  back  to  her  place  she  said  to  him 
in  a  mocking  voice: 

"  Here  you  are  at  the  summit  of  your  wishes :  you  are  be- 
ing treated  like  a  prince." 

"  Don't  be  afraid,"  replied  the  Star  Gazer  gently.  "  You 
shall  never  be  a  gardener's  wife." 

The  little  princess  stared  at  him  with  a  frightened  face, 
and  he  left  her  without  waiting  for  an  answer. 

When  the  satin  slippers  were  worn  through  the  fiddles 
stopped,  and  the  negro  boys  set  the  table.  Michael  was 
placed  next  to  the  eldest  sister  and  opposite  to  the  youngest. 

They  gave  him  the  most  exquisite  dishes  to  eat,  and  the 
most  delicate  wines  to  drink;  and  in  order  to  turn  his  head 
more  completely,  compliments  and  flattery  were  heaped  on 
him  from  every  side. 

But  he  took  care  not  to  be  intoxicated,  either  by  the  wine 
or  the  compliments. 


12  THE   RED   FAIRY   BOOK. 

XV. 

At  last  the  eldest  sister  made  a  sign,  and  one  of  the  black 
pages  brought  in  a  large  golden  cup. 

"  The  enchanted  castle  has  no  more  secrets  for  you,"  she 
said  to  the  Star  Gazer.    "  Let  us  drink  to  your  triumph." 

He  cast  a  lingering  glance  at  the  little  princess  and  with- 
out hesitation  lifted  the  cup. 

"  Don't  drink !  "  suddenly  cried  out  the  little  princess ;  "  I 
would  rather  marry  a  gardener." 

And  she  burst  into  tears. 

Michael  flung  the  contents  of  the  cup  behind  him,  sprang 
over  the  table,  and  fell  at  Lina's  feet.  The  rest  of  the  princes 
fell  likewise  at  the  knees  of  the  princesses,  each  of  whom 
chose  a  husband  and  raised  him  to  her  side.  The  charm  was 
broken. 

The  twelve  couples  embarked  in  the  boats,  which  crossed 
back  many  times  in  order  to  carry  over  the  other  princes. 
Then  they  all  went  through  the  three  woods,  and  when  they 
had  passed  the  door  of  the  underground  passage  a  great  noise 
was  heard,  as  if  the  enchanted  castle  was  crumbling  to  the 
earth. 

They  went  straight  to  the  room  of  the  Duke  of  Beloail,  who 
had  just  awoke.  Michael  held  in  his  hand  the  golden  cup, 
and  he  revealed  the  secret  of  the  holes  in  the  shoes. 

"  Choose,  then,"  said  the  duke,  "  whichever  you  prefer." 

"  My  choice  is  already  made,"  replied  the  garden  boy,  and 
he  offered  his  hand  to  the  youngest  princess,  who  blushed  and 
lowered  her  eyes. 

XVI. 

The  Princess  Lina  did  not  become  a  gardener's  wife;  on 
the  contrary,  it  was  the  Star  Gazer  who  became  a  prince: 
but  before  the  marriage  ceremony  the  princess  insisted  that 
her  lover  should  tell  her  how  he  came  to  discover  the  secret. 

So  he  showed  her  the  two  laurels  which  had  helped  him, 
and  she,  like  a  prudent  girl,  thinking  they  gave  him  too  much 
advantage  over  his  wife,  cut  them  off  at  the  root  and  threw 
them  in  the  fire. 

And  this  is  why  the  country  girls  go  about  singing 


THE   RED    FAIRY    BOOK.  13 

**  Nous  n'irons  plus  au  bois, 
Les  lauriers  sunt  coupes," 

and  dancing  in  summer  by  the  light  of  the  moon. 


THE  PEINCESS  MAYBLOSSOM  * 

Once  upon  a  time  there  lived  a  king  and  queen  whose  chil- 
dren had  all  died,  first  one  and  then  another,  until  at  last 
only  one  little  daughter  remained,  and  the  queen  was  at 
her  wits'  end  to  know  where  to  find  a  really  good  nurse 
who  would  take  care  of  her  and  bring  her  up.  A  herald  was 
sent  who  blew  a  trumpet  at  every  street  corner,  and  com- 
manded all  the  best  nurses  to  appear  before  the  queen,  that 
she  might  choose  one  for  the  little  princess.  So  on  the  ap- 
pointed day  the  whole  palace  was  crowded  with  nurses, 
who  came  from  the  four  corners  of  the  world  to  offer  them- 
selves, until  the  queen  declared  if  she  was  ever  to  see  half 
of  them,  they  must  be  brought  out  to  her,  one  by  one,  as  she 
sat  in  a  shady  wood  near  the  palace. 

This  was  accordingly  done,  and  the  nurses,  after  they  had 
made  their  courtesy  to  the  king  and  queen,  ranged  them- 
selves in  a  line  before  her  that  she  might  choose.  Most  of 
them  were  fair  and  fat  and  charming,  but  there  was  one 
who  was  dark-skinned  and  ugly,  and  spoke  a  strange  lan- 
guage which  nobody  could  understand.  The  queen  wondered 
how  she  dared  to  offer  herself,  and  she  was  told  to  go  away,  as 
she  certainly  would  not  do.  Upon  which  she  muttered  some- 
thing and  passed  on,  but  hid  herself  in  a  hollow  tree,  from 
which  she  could  well  see  all  that  happened.  The  queen,  with- 
out giving  her  another  thought,  chose  a  pretty,  rosy-faced 
nurse,  but  no  sooner  was  her  choice  made  than  a  snake, 
which  was  hiddden  in  the  grass,  bit  that  very  nurse  on  her 
foot,  so  that  she  fell  down  as  if  dead.  The  queen  was  very 
much  vexed  by  this  accident,  but  she  soon  selected  another, 
who  was  just  stepping  forward  when  an  eagle  flew  by  and 
dropped  a  large  tortoise  on  her  head,  which  was  cracked  in 
pieces  like  an  egg-shell.  At  this  the  queen  was  much  hor- 
rified ;  nevertheless,  she  chose  a  third  time,  but  with  no  better 

*  La  Princesse  PrintanUre.    Par  Madame  d'Aulnoy. 


14  THE   RED    FAIRY   BOOK. 

fortune,  for  the  nurse,  moving  quickly,  ran  into  the  branch 
of  a  tree  and  blinded  herself  with  a  thorn.  Then  the  queen 
in  dismay  cried  that  there  must  be  some  malignant  influence 
at  work,  and  that  she  would  choose  no  more  that  day;  and 
she  had  just  risen  to  return  to  the  palace  when  she  heard 
peals  of  malicious  laughter  behind  her,  and  turning  round 
saw  the  ugly  stranger  whom  she  had  dismissed,  who  was 
making  very  merry  over  the  disasters  and  mocking  every 
one,  but  especially  the  queen.  This  annoyed  her  majesty 
very  much,  and  she  was  about  to  order  that  she  should  be 
arrested,  when  the  witch — for  she  was  a  witch — with  two 
blows  from  a  wand  summoned  a  chariot  of  fire  drawn  by 
winged  dragons,  and  was  whirled  off  through  the  air  utter- 
ing threats  and  cries.    When  the  king  saw  this  he  cried : 

"  Alas !  now  we  are  ruined,  indeed,  for  that  was  no  other 
than  the  Fairy  Carabosse,  who  has  had  a  grudge  against  me 
ever  since  I  was  a  boy  and  put  sulphur  into  her  porridge  one 
day  for  fun." 

Then  the  queen  began  to  cry. 

"  If  I  had  only  known  who  it  was,"  she  said,  "  I  would  have 
done  my  best  to  make  friends  with  her;  now  I  suppose  alLis 
lost." 

The  king  was  sorry  to  have  frightened  her  so  much,  and 
proposed  that  they  should  go  and  hold  a  council  as  to  what 
was  best  to  be  done  to  avert  the  misfortunes  which  Cara- 
bosse certainly  meant  to  bring  upon  the  little  princess. 

So  all  the  counselors  were  summoned  to  the  palace,  and 
when  they  had  shut  every  door  and  window,  and  stuffed  up 
every  keyhole  that  they  might  not  be  overheard,  they  talked 
the  affair  over,  and  decided  that  every  fairy  for  a  thousand 
leagues  round  should  be  invited  to  the  christening  of  the  prin- 
cess, and  that  the  time  of  the  ceremony  should  be  kept  a  pro- 
found secret,  in  case  the  Fairy  Carabosse  should  take  it  into 
her  head  to  attend  it. 

The  queen  and  her  ladies  set  to  work  to  prepare  presents 
for  the  fairies  who  were  invited:  for  each  one  a  blue  velvet 
cloak,  a  petticoat  of  apricot  satin,  a  pair  of  high-heeled 
shoes,  some  sharp  needles,  and  a  pair  of  golden  scissors. 
Of  all  the  fairies  the  queen  knew,  only  five  were  able  to  come 
on  the  day  appointed,  but  they  began  immediately  to  be- 
stow gifts  upon  the  princess.     One  promised  that  she  should 


THE    RED  FAIRY   BOOK.  15 

be  perfectly  beautiful,  the  second  that  she  should  under- 
stand anything — no  matter  what — the  first  time  it  was  ex- 
plained to  her,  the  third  that  she  should  sing  like  a  night- 
ingale, the  fourth  that  she  should  succeed  in  everything  she 
undertook,  and  the  fifth  was  opening  her  mouth  to  speak 
when  a  tremendous  rumbling  was  heard  in  the  chimney,  and 
Carabosse,  all  covered  with  soot,  came  rolling  down,    crying : 

"  I  say  that  she  shall  be  the  unluckiest  of  the  unlucky  until 
she  is  twenty  years  old." 

Then  the  queen  and  all  the  fairies  began  to  beg  and  beseech 
her  to  think  better  of  it,  and  not  be  so  unkind  to  the  poor 
little  princess,  who  had  never  done  her  any  harm.  But  the 
ugly  old  fairy  only  grunted  and  made  no  answer.  So  the 
last  fairy,  who  had  not  yet  given  her  gift,  tried  to  mend  mat- 
ters by  promising  the  princess  a  long  and  happy  life  after 
the  fatal  time  was  over.  At  this  Carabosse  laughed  mali- 
ciously, and  climbed  away  up  the  chimney,  leaving  them  all 
in  great  consternation,  and  especially  the  queen.  How- 
ever, she  entertained  the  fairies  splendidly,  and  gave  them 
beautiful  ribbons,  of  which  they  are  very  fond,  in  addition 
to  the  other  presents. 

When  they  were  going  away  the  oldest  fairy  said  that  they 
were  of  opinion  that  it  would  be  best  to  shut  the  princess 
up  in  some  place,  with  her  waiting-women,  so  that  she  might 
not  see  anyone  else  until  she  was  twenty  years  old.  So  the 
king  had  a  tower  built  on  purpose.  It  had  no  windows,  so  it 
was  lighted  with  wax  candles,  and  the  only  way  into  it  was 
by  an  underground  passage,  which  had  iron  doors  only 
twenty  feet  apart,  and  guards  were  posted  everywhere. 

The  princess  had  been  named  Mayblossom,  because  she 
was  as  fresh  and  blooming  as  spring  itself,  and  she  grew  up 
tall  and  beautiful,  and  everything  she  did  and  said  was 
charming.  Every  time  the  king  and  queen  came  to  see  her 
they  were  more  delighted  with  her  than  before,  but  though 
she  was  weary  of  the  tower,  and  often  begged  them  to  take 
her  away  from  it,  they  always  refused.  The  princess'  nurse, 
who  had  never  left  her,  sometimes  told  her  about  the  world 
outside  the  tower,  and  though  the  princess  had  never  seen 
anything  for  herself,  yet  she  always  understood  exactly, 
thanks  to  the  second  fairy's  gift.  Often  the  king  said  to 
the  queen: 


16  THE   EED    FAIRY   BOOK. 

"  We  were  cleverer  than  Carabosse,  after  all.  Our  May- 
blossom  will  be  happy  in  spite  of  her  predictions." 

And  the  queen  laughed  until  she  was  tired  at  the  idea  of 
having  outwitted  the  old  fairy.  They  had  caused  the  prin- 
cess' portrait  to  be  painted  and  sent  to  all  the  neighboring 
courts,  for  in  four  days  she  would  have  completed  her  twen- 
tieth year,  and  it  was  time  to  decide  whom  she  should  marry. 
All  the  town  was  rejoicing  at  the  thought  of  the  princess' 
approaching  freedom,  and  when  the  report  came  that  King 
Merlin  was  sending  his  ambassador  to  ask  her  in  marriage 
for  his  son,  they  were  still  more  delighted.  The  nurse,  who 
kept  the  princess  informed  of  everything  that  went  forward 
in  the  town,  did  not  fail  to  repeat  the  news  that  so  nearly 
concerned  her,  and  gave  such  a  description  of  the  splendor 
in  which  the  ambassador  Fanfaronade  would  enter  the  town, 
that  the  princess  was  wild  to  see  the  procession  for  herself. 

"  What  an  unhappy  creature  I  am,"  she  cried,  "  to  be  shut 
up  in  this  dismal  tower  as  if  I  had  committed  some  crime! 
I  have  never  seen  the  sun,  or  the  stars,  or  a  horse,  or  a 
monkey,  or  a  lion,  except  in  pictures,  and  though  the  king 
and  queen  tell  me  I  am  to  be  set  free  when  I  am  twenty,  I  be- 
lieve they  only  say  it  to  keep  me  amused,  when  they  never 
mean  to  let  me  out  at  all." 

And  then  she  began  to  cry,  and  her  nurse,  and  the  nurse's 
daughter,  and  the  cradle-rocker,  and  the  nursery-maid,  who 
all  loved  her  dearly,  cried,  too,  for  company,  so  that  nothing 
could  be  heard  but  sobs  and  sighs.  It  was  a  scene  of  woe. 
When  the  princess  saw  that  they  all  pitied  her  she  made  up 
her  mind  to  have  her  own  way.  So  she  declared  that  she 
would  starve  herself  to  death  if  they  did  not  find  some  means 
of  letting  her  see  Fanfaronade's  grand  entry  into  the  town. 

"  If  you  really  love  me,"  she  said,  "  you  will  manage  it, 
somehow  or  other,  and  the  king  and  queen  need  never  know 
anything  about  it." 

Then  the  nurse  and  all  the  others  cried  harder  than  ever, 
and  said  everything  they  could  think  of  to  turn  the  prin- 
cess from  her  idea.  But  the  more  they  said  the  more  deter- 
mined she  was,  and  at  last  they  consented  to  make  a  tiny 
hole  in  the  tower  on  the  side  that  looked  toward  the  city 


After  scratching  8nd  scraping  all  day  and  all  night,  they 


THE   RED    FAIRY   BOOK.  17 

presently  made  a  hole  through  which  they  could,  with  great 
mmculty  push  a  very  slender  needle,  and  out  of  this  the 
princess  looked  at  the  daylight  for  the  first  time.  She  was 
to  dazzled  and  delighted  by  what  she  saw  that  there  she 
stayed,  never  taking  her  eyes  away  from  the  peep-hole  tor  a 
single  minute,  until  presently  the  ambassador's  precession 
apppeared  in  sight. 

At  the  head  of  it  rode  Fanfaronade  himself  upon  a  white 
horse,  which  pranced  and  caracoled  to  the  sound  of  the  trum- 
pets. Nothing  could  have  been  more  splendid  than  the  am- 
bassador's attire.  His  coat  was  nearly  hidden  under  an  em- 
broidery of  pearls  and  diamonds,  his  boots  were  solid  gold, 
and  from  his  helmet  floated  scarlet  plumes.  At  the  sight  of 
him  the  princess  lost  her  wits  entirely,  and  determined  that 
Fanfaronade  and  nobody  else  would  she  marry. 

"  It  is  quite  impossible,"  she  said,  "  that  his  master  should 
be  half  as  handsome  and  delightful.  I  am  not  ambitious, 
and  having  spent  all  my  life  in  this  tedious  tower,  anything 
— even  a  house  in  the  country — -will  seem  a  delightful  change. 
I  am  sure  that  bread  and  water  shared  with  Fanfaronade 
will  please  me  far  better  than  roast  chicken  and  sweetmeats 
with  anybody  else." 

And  so  she  went  on,  talk,  talk,  talking,  until  her  waiting- 
women  wondered  where  she  got  it  all  from.  But  when  they 
tried  to  stop  her,  and  represented  that  her  high  rank  made 
it  perfectly  impossible  that  she  should  do  any  such  thing,  she 
would  not  listen,  and  ordered  them  to  be  silent. 

As  soon  as  the  ambassador  arrived  at  the  palace  the  queen 
started  to  fetch  her  daughter. 

All  the  streets  were  spread  with  carpets,  and  the  windows 
were  full  of  ladies  who  were  waiting  to  see  the  princess, 
and  carried  baskets  of  flowers  and  sweetmeats  to  shower  upon 
her  as  she  passed. 

They  had  hardly  begun  to  get  the  princess  ready  when  a 
dwarf  arrived,  mounted  upon  an  elephant.  He  came  from 
the  five  fairies,  and  brought  for  the  princess  a  crown,  a  scep- 
ter, and  a  robe  of  golden  brocade,  with  a  petticoat  marvel- 
ously  embroidered  with  butterflies'  wings.  They  also  sent  a 
casket  of  jewels,  so  splendid  that  no  one  had  ever  seen  any- 
thing like  it  before,  and  the  queen  was  perfectly  dazzled 
when  she  opened  it.     But  the  princess  scarcely  gave  a  glance 


18  THE    RED    FAIRY    BOOK. 

tc  any  of  these  treasures,  for  she  thought  of  nothing  but 
Fanfaronade.  The  dwarf  was  rewarded  with  a  gold  piece, 
and  decorated  with  so  many  ribbons  that  it  was  hardly  poc- 
sible  to  see  him  at  all.  The  princess  sent  to  each  of  the 
fairies  a  new  spinning-wheel  with  a  distaff  of  cedar  wood, 
and  the  queen  said  she  mirt  look  through  her  treasures  and 
find  something  very  charn  ing  to  send  them  also. 

When  the  princess  was  arrayed  in  all  the  gorgeous  things 
the  dwarf  had  brought,  she  was  more  beautiful  than  ever, 
and  as  she  walked  along  the  streets  the  people  cried :  "  How 
pretty  she  is !  how  pretty  she  is !  " 

The  procession  consisted  of  the  queen,  the  princess,  five 
dozen  other  princesses  her  cousins,  and  ten  dozen  who  came 
from  the  neighboring  kingdoms;  and  as  they  proceeded  at  a 
stately  pace  the  sky  began  to  grow  dark,  then  suddenly  the 
thunder  growled,  and  rain  and  hail  fell  in  torrents.  The 
queen  put  her  royal  mantle  over  her  head,  and  all  the  prin- 
cesses did  the  same  with  their  trains.  Maybossom  was  just 
about  to  follow  their  example  when  a  terrific  croaking,  as  of 
an  immense  army  of  crows,  rooks,  ravens,  screech-owls,  and 
all  birds  of  ill-omen,  was  heard,  and  at  the  same  instant  a 
huge  owl  skimmed  up  to  the  princess,  and  threw  over  her  a 
scarf  woven  of  spiders'  webs  and  embroidered  with  bats' 
wings.  And  then  peals  of  mocking  laughter  rang  through 
the  air,  and  they  guessed  that  this  was  another  of  the  Fairy 
Carabosse's  unpleasant  jokes. 

The  queen  Was  terrified  at  such  an  evil  omen,  and  tried  to 
pull  the  black  scarf  from  the  princess'  shoulders,  but  it  really 
seemed  as  if  it  must  be  nailed  on,  it  clung  so  closely. 

"  Ah !  "  cried  the  queen,  "  can  nothing  appease  this  enemy 
of  ours?  What  good  was  it  that  I  sent  her  more  than  fifty 
pounds  of  sweetmeats,  and  as  much  again  of  the  best  sugar, 
not  to  mention  two  Westphalia  hams?  She  is  as  angry  as 
wer." 

While  she  lamented  in  this  way,  and  everybody  was  as  wet 
as  if  they  had  been  dragged  through  a  river,  the  princess 
still  thought  of  nothing  but  the  ambassador,  and  just  at  this 
moment  he  appeared  before  her,  with  the  king,  and  there 
was  a  great  blowing  of  trumpets,  and  all  the  people  shouted 
louder  than  ever.  Fanfaronade  was  not  generally  at  a  loss 
for  something  to  say,  but  when  he  saw  the  princess,  she  was 


THE    RED    FAIRY    BOOK.  19 

so  much  more  beautiful  and  majestic  than  he  had  expected, 
that  he  could  only  stammer  out  a  few  words,  and  entirely  for- 
got the  harangue  which  he  had  been  learning  for  months, 
and  knew  well  enough  to  have  repeated  it  in  his  sleep.  To 
gain  time  to  remember  at  least  part  of  it,  he  made  several 
low  bows  to  the  princess,  who  on  her  side  dropped  half  a 
dozen  courtesies  without  stopping  to  think,  and  then  said,  to 
relieve  his  evident  embarrassment : 

"  Sir  Ambassador,  I  am  sure  that  everything  you  intend  to 
say  is  charming,  since  it  is  you  who  mean  to  say  it ;  but  let 
us  make  haste  into  the  palace,  as  it  is  pouring  cats  and  dogs, 
and  the  wicked  Fairy  Carabosse  will  be  amused  to  see  us  all 
stand  dripping  here.  When  we  are  once  under  shelter  we 
can  laugh  at  her." 

Upon  this  the  ambassador  found  his  tongue,  and  replied 
gallantly  that  the  fairy  had  evidently  foreseen  the  flames 
that  would  be  kindled  by  the  bright  eyes  of  the  princess,  and 
had  sent  this  deluge  to  extinguish  them.  Then  he  offered 
his  hand  to  conduct  the  princess,  and  she  said  softly: 

"  As  you  could  not  possibly  guess  how  much  I  like  you, 
Sir  Fanfaronade,  I  am  obliged  to  tell  you  plainly  that,  since 
I  saw  you  enter  the  town  on  your  beautiful  prancing  horse, 
I  have  been  sorry  that  you  came  to  speak  for  another  instead 
of  for  yourself.  So,  if  you  think  about  it  as  I  do,  I  will  marry 
you  instead  of  your  master.  Of  course,  I  know  you  are  not  a 
prince,  but  I  shall  be  just  as  fond  of  you  as  if  you  were,  and 
we  can  go  and  live  in  some  cozy  little  corner  of  the  world,  and 
be  as  happy  as  the  days  are  long." 

The  ambassador  thought  he  must  be  dreaming,  and  could 
hardly  believe  what  the  lovely  princess  said.  He  dared  not 
answer,  but  only  squeezed  the  princess'  hand  until  he  really 
hurt  her  little  finger,  but  she  did  not  cry  out.  When  they 
reached  the  palace  the  king  kissed  his  daughter  on  both 
cheeks,   and  said: 

"  My  little  lambkin,  are  you  willing  to  marry  the  great 
King  Merlin's  son,  for  this  ambassador  has  come  on  his  be- 
half to  fetch  you?" 

"If  you  please,  sire,"  said  the  princess,  dropping  a  cour- 
tesy. 

"I  consent,  also,"  said  the  queen;  "so  let  the  banquet  be 
prepared." 


20  THE    RED    FAIRY    BOOK. 

This  was  done  with  all  speed,  and  everybody  feasted  ex- 
cept Mayblossom  and  Fanfaronade,  who  looked  at  one  an- 
other and  forgot  everything  else. 

After  the  banquet  came  a  ball,  and  after  that  again  a  bal- 
let, and  at  last  they  were  all  so  tired  that  everyone  fell  asleep 
just  where  he  sat.  Only  the  lovers  were  as  wide  awake  as 
mice,  and  the  princess,  seeing  that  there  was  nothing  to  fear, 
said  to  Fanfaronade: 

"  Let  us  be  quick  and  run  away,  for  we  shall  never  have  a 
better  chance  than  this." 

Then  she  took  the  king's  dagger,  which  was  in  a  diamond 
sheath,  and  the  queen's  neck-handkerchief,  and  gave  her 
hand  to  Fanfaronade,  who  carried  a  lantern,  and  they  ran  out 
together  into  the  muddy  street  and  down  to  the  seashore. 
Here  they  got  into  a  little  boat  in  which  the  poor  old  boat- 
man was  sleeping,  and  when  he  woke  up  and  saw  the  lovely 
princess,  with  all  her  diamonds  and  her  spiders'-web  scarf,  he 
did  not  know  what  to  think,  and  obeyed  her  instantly  when 
she  commanded  him  to  set  out.  They  could  see  neither 
moon  nor  stars,  but  in  the  queen's  neck-handkerchief  there 
was  a  carbuncle  that  glowed  like  fifty  torches.  Fanfaronade 
asked  the  princess  where  she  would  like  to  go,  but  she  only 
answered  that  she  did  not  care  where  she  went  as  long  as  he 
was  with  her. 

"  But,  princess,"  said  he,  "I  dare  not  take  you  back  to  King 
Merlin's  court.     He  would  think  hanging  too  good  for  me." 

"  Oh,  in  that  case,"  she  answered,  "  we  had  better  go  to 
Squirrel  Island;  it  is  lonely  enough,  and  too  far  off  for  any- 
one to  follow  us  there." 

So  she  ordered  the  old  boatman  to  steer  for  Squirrel  Island. 

Meanwhile  the  day  was  breaking,  and  the  king  and  queen 
and  all  the  courtiers  began  to  wake  up  and  rub  their  eyes, 
and  think  it  was  time  to  finish  the  preparations  for  the  wed- 
ding. And  the  queen  asked  for  her  neck-handkerchief,  that 
she  might  look  smart.  Then  there  was  a  scurry  hither  and 
thither,  and  a  hunting  everywhere:  they  looked  into  every 
place,  from  the  wardrobes  to  the  stoves,  and  the  queen  her- 
self ran  about  from  the  garret  to  the  cellar,  but  the  hand- 
kerchief was  nowhere  to  be  found. 

By  this  time  the  king  had  missed  his  dagger,  and  the  search 
began  all  over  again.    They  opened  boxes  and  chests  of  which 


THE   RED    FAIRY    BOOK. 


21 


the  keys  had  been  lost  for  a  hundred  years,  and  found  num- 
bers of  curious  things,  but  not  the  dagger,  and  the  king  tore 
his  beard,  and  the  queen  tore  her  hair,  for  the  handkerchief 
and  the  dagger  were  the  most  valuable  things  in  the  king- 
dom. 

When  the  king  saw  that  the  search  was  hopeless  he  said: 


"  Never  mind,  let  us  make  haste  and  get  the  wedding  over 
before  anything  else  is  lost."  And  then  he  asked  where 
the  process  was.  Upon  this  t  r  nurse  came  forward  and 
said: 

"  Sire,  I  have  been  seeking  her  these  two  hours,  but  she  is 
nowhere  to  be  found."  This  was  more  than  the  queen  could 
bear.  She  gave  a  shriek  of  alarm,  and  fainted  away,  and 
they  had  to  pour  two  barrels  of  eau-de-cologne  over  her  be- 


22  THE   RED    FAIRY   BOOK. 

fore  she  recovered.  When  she  came  to  herself  everybody 
was  looking  for  the  princess  in  the  greatest  terror  and  con- 
fusion, but  as  she  did  not  appear,  the  king  said  to  his  page: 

"  Go  and  find  the  Ambassador  Fanfaronade,  who  is  doubt- 
less asleep  in  some  corner,  and  tell  him  the  sad  news." 

So  the  page  hunted  hither  and  thither,  but  Fanfaronade 
was  no  more  to  be  found  than  the  princess,  the  dagger,  or 
the  neck-handkerchief! 

Then  the  king  summoned  his  counselors  and  his  guards, 
and,  accompanied  by  the  queen,  went  into  his  great  hall.  As 
he  had  not  had  time  to  prepare  his  speech  beforehand,  the 
king  ordered  that  silence  should  be  kept  for  three  hours,  and 
at  the  end  of  that  time  he  spoke,  as  follows: 

"  Listen,  great  and  small !  My  dear  daughter  Mayblossom 
is  lost:  whether  she  has  been  stolen  away  or  has  simply  dis- 
apppeared,  I  cannot  tell.  The  queen's  neck-handkerchief  and 
my  sword,  which  are  worth  their  weight  in  gold,  are  also 
missing,  and,  what  is  worst  of  all,  Ambassador  Fanfaronade 
is  nowhere  to  be  found.  I  greatly  fear  that  the  king,  his 
master,  when  he  receives  no  tidings  from  him,  will  come  to 
seek  him  among  us,  and  will  accuse  us  of  having  made  mince- 
meat of  him.  Perhaps  I  could  bear  even  that  if  I  had  any 
money,  but  I  assure  you  that  the  expenses  of  the  wedding 
have  completely  ruined  me.  Advise  me,  then,  my  dear  sub- 
jects, what  I  had  better  do  to  recover  my  daughter,  Fanfar- 
onade, and  the  other  things." 

This  was  the  most  eloquent  speech  the  king  had  been 
known  to  make,  and  when  everybody  had  done  admiring  it 
the  prime  minister  made  answer: 

"  Sire,  we  are  all  very  sorry  to  see  you  so  sorry.  We  would 
give  everything  we  value  in  the  world  to  take  away  the  cause 
of  your  sorrow,  but  this  seems  to  be  another  of  the  tricks  of 
the  Fairy  Carabosse.  The  princess'  twenty  unlucky  years 
were  not  quite  over,  and  really,  if  the  truth  must  be  told, 
I  noticed  that  Fanfaronade  and  the  princess  admired  one  an- 
other greatly.  Perhaps  this  may  give  some  clew  to  the  mys- 
tery of  their  disappearance." 

Here  the  queen  interrupted  him,  saying,  "  Take  care  what 
you  say,  sir.  Believe  me,  the  Princess  Mayblossom  was  far 
too  well  brought  up  to  think  of  falling  in  love  with  an  am- 
bassador." 


THE    RED    FAIRY    BOOK.  23 

At  this  the  nurse  came  forward,  and  falling  on  her  knees, 
confessed  how  they  had  made  the  little  needle-hole  in  the 
tower,  and  how  the  princess  had  declared  when  she  saw  the 
ambassador  that  she  would  marry  him  and  nobody  else. 
Then  the  queen  was  very  angry,  and  gave  the  nurse  and  the 
cradle-rocker  and  the  nursery-maid  such  a  scolding  that  they 
shook  in  their  shoes.  But  the  Admiral  Cocked-hat  inter- 
rupted her,  crying: 

"  Let  us  be  off  after  this  good-for-nothing  Fanfaronade, 
for  without  a  doubt  he  has  run  away  with  our  princess." 

Then  there  was  a  great  clapping  of  hands,  and  everybody 
shouted,  "  By  all  means  let  us  be  after  him." 

So  while  some  embarked  upon  the  sea,  the  others  ran  from 
kingdom  to  kingdom  beating  drums  and  blowing  trumpets, 
and  wherever  a  crowd  collected  they  cried: 

"  Whoever  wants  a  beautiful  doll,  sweetmeats  of  all  kinds, 
a  little  pair  of  scissors,  a  golden  robe,  and  a  satin  cap  has 
only  to  say  where  Fanfaronade  has  hidden  the  Princess  May- 
blossom." 

But  the  answer  everywhere  was,  "You  must  go  further, 
we  have  not  seen  them." 

However,  those  who  went  by  sea  were  more  fortunate,  for 
after  sailing  about  for  some  time  they  noticed  a  light  before 
them  which  burned  at  night  like  a  great  fire.  At  first  they 
■dared  not  go  near  it,  not  knowing  what  it  might  be,  but  by 
and  by  it  remained  stationary  over  Squirrel  Island,  for,  as 
you  have  guessed  already,  the  light  was  the  glowing  of  the 
carbuncle.  The  princess  and  Fanfaronade  upon  landing  upon 
the  island  had  given  the  boatman  a  hundred  gold  pieces,  and 
made  him  promise  solemnly  to  tell  no  one  where  he  had  taken 
them ;  but  the  first  thing  that  happened  was  that,  as  he  rowed 
away,  he  got  into  the  midst  of  the  fleet,  and  before  he  could 
escape  the  admiral  had  seen  him  and  sent  a  boat  after  him. 

When  he  was  searched  they  found  the  gold  pieces  in  his 
pocket,  and  as  they  were  quite  new  coins,  struck  in  honor  of 
the  princess'  wedding,  the  admiral  felt  certain  that  the  boat- 
man must  have  been  paid  by  the  princess  to  aid  her  in  her 
flight.  But  he  would  not  answer  any  questions,  and  pre- 
tended to  be  deaf  and  dumb. 

Then  the  admiral  said  :  "  Oh !  deaf  and  dumb  is  he  ?  Lash 
him  to  the  mast  and  give  him  a  taste  of  the  cat-o'-nine-tails. 


24  THE    RED    FAIRY    BOOK. 

I  don't  know  anything  better  than  that  for  curing  the  deaf 
and  dumb ! " 

And  when  the  old  boatman  saw  he  was  in  earnest,  he  told 
all  he  knew  about  the  cavalier  and  the  lady  whom  he  had 
landed  upon  Squirrel  Island,  and  the  admiral  knew  it  must 
be  the  princess  and  Fanfaronade;  so  he  gave  the  order  tor 
the  fleet  to  surround  the  island. 

Meanwhile  the  Princess  Mayblossom,  who  was  by  this  time 
terribly  sleepy,  had  found  a  grassy  bank  in  the  shade,  and 
throwing  herself  down  had  already  fallen  into  a  profound 
slumber,  when  Fanfaronade,  who  happened  to  be  hungry  and 
not  sleepy,  came  and  woke  her  up,  saying  very  crossly : 

"  Pray,  madam,  how  long  do  you  mean  to  stay  here  ?  I  see 
nothing  to  eat,  and  though  you  may  be  very  charming,  the 
sight  of  you  does  not  prevent  me  from  famishing." 

"  What !  Fanfaronade,"  said  the  princess,  sitting  up  and 
rubbing  her  eyes,  "  is  it  possible  that  when  I  am  here  with 
you  you  can  want  anything  else  ?  You  ought  to  be  thinking 
all  the  time  how  happy  you  are." 

"  Happy !  "  cried  he ;  "  say  rather  unhappy.  I  wish  with  all 
my  heart  that  you  were  back  in  your  dark  tower  again." 

"Darling,  don't  be  cross,"  said  the  princess.  "I  will  go 
and  see  if  I  can  find  some  wild  fruit  for  you." 

"I  wish  you  might  find  a  wolf  to  eat  you  up,"  growled 
Fanfaronade. 

The  princess,  in  great  dismay,  ran  hither  and  thither  all 
about  the  wood,  tearing  her  dress  and  hurting  her  pretty 
white  hands  with  the  thorns  and  brambles,  but  she  could 
find  nothing  good  to  eat,  and  at  last  she  had  to  go  back  sor- 
rowfully to  Fanfaronade.  When  he  saw  that  she  came 
empty-handed,  he  got  up  and  left  her  angrily,  grumbling  to 
himself. 

The  next  day  they  searched  again,  but  with  no  better  suc- 
cess. 

"  Alas !  "  said  the  princess,  "  if  only  I  could  find  something 
for  you  to  eat,  I  should  not  mind  being  hungry  myself." 

"  No,  I  should  not  mind  that  either,"  answered  Fanfaron- 
ade. 

"  Is  it  possible,"  said  she,  "  that  you  would  not  care  if  I 
died  of  hunger?  Oh,  Fanfaronade,  you  said  you  loved 
me!" 


THE    RED    FAIRY    BOOK.  25 

"  That  was  when  we  were  in  quite  another  place  and  I  was 
not  hungry,"  said  he.  "  It  makes  a  great  difference  in  one's 
ideas  when  one  is  dying  of  hunger  and  thirst  on  a  desert 
island." 

At  this  the  princess  was  dreadfully  vexed,  and  she  sat  down 
under  a  white  rose  bush  and  began  to  cry  bitterly. 

"  Happy  roses,"  she  thought  to  herself,  "  they  have  only  to 
blossom  in  the  sunshine  and  be  admired,  and  there  is  nobody 
to  be  unkind  to  them."  And  the  tears  ran  down  her  cheeks 
and  splashed  on  the  rose-tree  roots.  Presently  she  was  sur- 
prised to  see  the  whole  bush  rustling  and  shaking,  and  a  soft 
little  voice  from  the  pretttiest  rosebud  said: 

"  Poor  princess !  look  in  the  trunk  of  that  tree  and  you  will 
find  a  honeycomb,  but  don't  be  foolish  enough  to  share  it 
with  Fanfaronade." 

Mayblossom  ran  to  the  tree,  and  sure  enough  there  was  the 
honey.  Without  losing  a  moment  she  ran  with  it  to  Fanfar- 
onade, crying  gayly: 

"  See,  here  is  a  honeycomb  that  I  have  found.  I  might 
have  eaten  it  up  all  by  myself,  but  I  had  rather  share  it  with 
you." 

But  without  looking  at  her  or  thanking  her,  he  snatched 
the  honeycomb  out  of  her  hands  and  ate  it  all  up — every  bit, 
without  offering  her  a  morsel.  Indeed,  when  she  humbly 
asked  for  some  he  said  mockingly  that  it  was  too  sweet  for 
her,  and  would  spoil  her  teeth. 

Mayblossom,  more  downcast  than  ever,  went  sadly  away 
and  sat  down  under  an  oak  tree,  and  her  tears  and  sighs  were 
so  piteous  that  the  oak  fanned  her  with  his  rustling  leaves 
and  said: 

"  Take  courage,  pretty  princess,  all  is  not  lost  yet.  Take 
this  pitcher  of  milk  and  drink  it  up,  and  whatever  you  do, 
don't  leave  a  drop  for  Fanfaronade." 

The  princess,  quite  astonished,  looked  round  and  saw  a 
big  pitcher  full  of  milk,  but  before  she  could  raise  it  to  her 
lips  the  thought  of  how  thirsty  Fanfaronade  must  be,  after 
eating  at  least  fifteen  pounds  of  honey,  made  her  run  back  to 
him  and  say : 

"  Here  is  a  pitcher  of  milk ;  drink  some,  for  you  must  be 
thirsty,  I  am  sure ;  but  pray  save  a  little  for  me,  as  I  am  dy- 
ing of  hunger  and  thirst." 


26  THE   RED    FAIRY   BOOK. 

But  he  seized  the  pitcher  and  drank  all  it  contained  at  a 
single  draught,  and  then  broke  it  to  atoms  on  the  nearest 
stone,  saying,  with  a  malicious  smile :  "  As  you  have  not  eaten 
anything  you  cannot  be  thirsty." 

"  Ah !  "  cried  the  princess,  "  I  am  well  punished  for  dis- 
appointing the  king  and  queen,  and  running  away  with  this 
ambassador,  of  whom  I  knew  nothing." 

And  so  saying  she  wandered  away  into  the  thickest  part  of 
the  wood,  and  sat  down  under  a  thorn  tree,  where  a  nightin- 
gale was  singing.  Presently  she  heard  him  say :  "  Search 
under  the  bush,  princess;  you  will  find  some  sugar  almonds 
and  some  tarts  there.  But  don't  be  silly  enough  to  offer  Fan- 
faronade any."  And  this  time  the  princess,  who  was  faint- 
ing with  hunger,  took  the  nightingale's  advice,  and  ate  what 
she  found,  all  by  herself.  But  Fanfaronade,  seeing  that  she 
had  found  something  good,  and  was  not  going  to  share 
it  with  him,  ran  after  her  in  such  a  fury  that 
she  hastily  drew  out  the  queen's  carbuncle,  which  had  the 
property  of  rendering  people  invisible  if  they  were  in  dan- 
ger, and  when  she  was  safely  hidden  from  him  she  reproached 
him  gently  for  his  unkindness. 

Meanwhile  Admiral  Cocked-hat  had  dispatched  Jack-the- 
chatterer-of-the-straw-boots,  courier  in  ordinary  to  the  prime 
minister,  to  tell  the  king  that  the  princess  and  the  ambas- 
sador had  landed  on  Squirrel  Island,  but  that  not  knowing 
the  country  he  had  not  pursued  them,  for  fear  of  being  cap- 
tured by  concealed  enemies.  Their  majesties  were  overjoyed 
at  the  news,  and  the  king  sent  for  a  great  book,  each  leaf  of 
which  was  eight  ells  long.  It  was  the  work  of  a  very  clever 
fairy,  and  contained  a  description  of  the  whole  earth.  He 
very  soon  found  that  Squirrel  Island  was  uninhabited. 

"Go,"  said  he  to  Jack-the-chatterer,  "tell  the  admiral 
from  me  to  land  at  once.  I  am  surprised  at  his  not  having 
done  so  sooner."  As  soon  as  this  message  reached  the  fleet, 
every  preparation  was  made  for  war,  and  the  noise  was  so 
great  that  it  reached  the  ears  of  the  princess,  who  at  once 
flew  to  protect  her  lover.  As  he  was  not  very  brave  he  ac- 
cepted her  aid  gladly. 

"You  stand  behind  me,"  said  she,  "and  I  will  hold  the 
carbuncle,  which  will  make  us  invisible,  and  with  the  king's 
dagger  I  can  protect  you  from  the  enemy."     So  when  the 


THE    BED   FAIET    BOOK. 


27 


soldiers  landed  they  could  see  nothing,  but  the  princess 
touched  them  one  after  another  with  the  dagger  and  they  fell 
insensible  upon  the  sand,  so  that  at  last  the  admiral,  seeing 
that  there  was  some  enchantment,  hastily  gave  orders  for  a 
retreat  to  be  sounded,  and  got  his  men  back  into  their  boats 
in  great  confusion. 

Fanfaronade,  being  once  more  left  with  the  princess,  be- 
gan to  think  that  if  he  could  get  rid  of  her,  and  possess  him- 
self of  the  carbuncle  and  the  dagger,  he  would  be  able  to 
make  his  escape.     So  as  they  walked  over  the  cliffs  he  gave 

the  princess  a  great  push, 
hoping  that  she  would  fall 
into  the  sea;  but  she 
stepped  aside  so  quickly 
that  he  only  succeeded  in 
overbalancing  himself,  and 
over  he  went  and  sank  to 
the  bottom  of  the  sea  like 
a  lump  of  lead,  and  was 
never  heard  of  any  more. 
While  the  princess  was 
still  looking  after  him  in 
horror  her  attention  was 
attracted  by  a  rushing 
noise  over  her  head,  and 
looking  up  she  saw  two 
chariots  approaching  rap- 
idly from  opposite  direc- 
tions. One  was  bright 
and  glittering,  and  drawn 
by  swans  and  peacocks, 
while  the  fairy  who  sat  in 
it  was  beautiful  as  a  sun- 
beam; the  other  drawn  by 
bats  and  ravens,  contained  a  frightful  little  dwarf,  who 
was  dressed  in  a  snake's  skin,  and  wore  a  great  toad  upon 
her  head  for  a  hood.  The  chariots  met  with  a  frightful  crash 
in  mid-air,  and  the  princess  looked  on  in  breathless  anxiety 
while  a  furious  battle  took  place  between  the  lovely  fairy 
with  her  golden  lance,  and  the  hideous  little  dwarf  with  her 
rusty  pike.    But  very  soon  it  was  evident  that  the  beauty  had 


48 


THE   RED    FAIRY    BOOK. 


the  best  of  it,  and  the  dwarf  turned  her  bats'  heads  and  flick- 
ered away  in  great  confusion,  while  the  fairy  came  down  to 
where  the  princess  stood,  and  said,  smiling :  "  You  see,  prin- 
cess, I  have  completely  routed  that  malicious  old  Carabosae. 


Will  you  believe  it!  she  actually  wanted  to  claim  authority 
over  you  forever,  because  you  came  out  of  the  tower  four 
aays  before  the  twenty  years  were  ended.  However,  I  think 
I  have  settled  her  pretensions,  and  I  hope  you  will  be  v<  3, 
H.ppy  and  enjoy  the  freedom  I  have  won  for  you." 

The  princess  thanked  her  heartily  and  then  the  fairy  dis' 
^tftched  one  of  her  peacocks  to  her  palace  to  bring  a  gorg*H^ 


THE   RED    FAIRY    BOOK. 


29 


robe  for  Mayblossom,  who  certainly  needed  it,  for  her  own 
was  torn  to  shreds  by  the  thorns  and  briars.  Another  pea- 
cock was  sent  to  the  admiral  to  tell  him  that  he  could  now 
land  in  perfect  safety,  which  he  at  once  did,  bringing  all  his 
men  with  him,  even  to  Jack-the-chatterer,  who,  happening 
to  pass  the  spit  upon  which  the  admiral's  dinner  was  roast- 
ing, snatched  it  up  and  brought  it  with  him. 

Admiral  Cocked-hat  was  immensely  surprised  when  he 
came  upon  the  golden  chariot,  and  still  more  so  to  see  two 
lovely  ladies  walking  under  the  trees  a  little  further  away. 
When  he  reached  them  of  course  he  recognized  the  prin- 
cess, and  he  went  down  on  his  knees  and  kissed  her  hand 


quite  joyfully.  Then  she  presented  him  to  the  fairy,  and 
told  him  how  Carabosse  had  been  finally  routed,  and  he 
thanked  and  congratulated  the  fairy,  who  was  most  gracious 
to  him.    While  they  were  talking  she  cried  suddenly : 

"  I  declare,  I  smell  a  savory  dinner." 

"Why,  yes,  madam,  here  it  is,"  said  Jack-the-chatterer, 
holding  up  the  spit,  where  all  the  pheasants  and  partridges 
were  frizzling.  "  Will  your  highness  please  to  taste  any  of 
them?" 


30  THE    RED    FAIRY    BOOK. 

"By  all  means,"  said  the  fairy,  "especially  as  the  prin- 
cess will  certainly  be  glad  of  a  good  meal." 

So  the  admiral  sent  back  to  his  ship  for  everything  thau 
was  needful,  and  they  feasted  merrily  under  the  trees.  By 
the  time  they  had  finished,  the  peacock  had  come  back  with  a 
robe  for  the  princess,  in  which  the  fairy  arrayed  her.  It  was 
of  green  and  gold  brocade,  embroidered  with  pearls  and  ru- 
bies, and  her  long  golden  hair  was  tied  back  with  strings 
of  diamonds  and  emeralds,  and  crowned  with  flowers.  The 
fairy  made  her  mount  beside  her  in  the  golden  chariot,  and 
took  her  on  board  the  admiral's  ship,  where  she  bade  fare- 
well, sending  many  messages  of  friendship  to  the  queen,  and 
bidding  the  princess  ted  her  she  was  the  fifth  fairy  who  had 
attended  the  christening.  Then  salutes  were  fired,  the  fleet 
weighed  anchor,  and  very  soon  they  reached  the  port.  Here 
the  king  and  queen  were  waiting,  and  they  received  the 
princess  with  such  joy  and  kindness  that  she  could  not  get 
a  word  in  edgeways,  to  say  how  sorry  she  was  for  having 
run  away  with  such  a  very  poor-spirited  ambassador.  But, 
after  all,  it  must  have  been  all  Carabosse's  fault.  Just  at 
this  lucky  moment  who  should  arrive  but  King  Merlin's  son, 
who  had  become  uneasy  at  not  receiving  any  news  from  his 
ambassador,  and  so  had  started  himself  with  a  magnificent 
escort  of  a  thousand  horsemen,  and  thirty  body-guards  in 
gold  and  scarlet  uniforms,  to  see  what  could  have  happened. 
As  he  was  a  hundred  times  handsomer  and  braver  than  the 
ambassador,  the  princess  found  she  could  like  him  very  much. 
So  the  wedding  was  held  at  once,  with  so  much  splendor  and 
rejoicing  that  all  the  previous  misfortunes  were  quite  for- 
gotten 

SOMA  MOKIA  CASTLE  * 

There  were  once  upon  a  time  a  couple  of  old  folks  who  had 
a  son  called  Halvor.  Ever  since  he  had  been  a  little  boy  he 
had  been  unwilling  to  do  any  work,  and  had  just  sat  raking 
about  among  the  ashes.  His  parents  sent  him  away  to  learn 
several  things,  but  Halvor  stayed  nowhere,  for  when  he  had 
been  gone  two  or  three  days  he  always  ran  away  from  his 

*  From  P.  C.  Asbjornsen. 


THE    RED    FAIRY    BOOK.  31 

master,  hurried  off  home,  and  sat  down  in  the  chimney  cor- 
ner to  grub  among  the  ashes  again. 

One  day,  however,  a  sea  captain  came  and  asked  Halvor  if 
he  hadn't  a  fancy  to  come  with  him  and  go  to  sea,  and  be- 
hold foreign  lands.  And  Halvor  had  a  fancy  for  that,  so  he 
was  not  long  in  getting  ready. 

How  long  they  sailed  I  have  no  idea,  but  after  a  long,  long 
time  there  was  a  terrible  storm,  and  when  it  was  over  and 
all  had  become  calm  again  they  knew  not  where  they  werr 
for  they  had  been  driven  away  to  a  strange  coast  of  which 
none  of  them  had  any  knowledge. 

As  there  was  no  wind  at  all  they  lay  there  becalmed,  and 
Halvor  asked  the  skipper  to  give  him  leave  to  go  on  shore  to 
look  about  him,  for  he  would  much  rather  do  that  than  lie 
there  and  sleep. 

"  Dost  thou  think  that  thou  art  fit  to  go  where  people  can 
see  thee  ?  "  said  the  skipper ;  "  thou  hast  no  clothes  but  those 
rags  thou  art  going  about  in !  " 

Halvor  still  begged  for  leave,  and  at  last  got  it,  but  he 
was  to  come  back  at  once  if  the  wind  began  to  rise. 

So  he  went  on  shore  and  it  was  a  delightful  country; 
whithersoever  he  went  there  were  wide  plains  with  fields  and 
meadows,  but  as  for  people  there  were  none  to  be  seen.  The 
wind  began  to  rise,  but  Halvor  thought  that  he  had  not  seen 
enough  yet,  and  that  he  would  like  to  walk  about  a  little 
longer,  to  try  if  he  could  not  meet  somebody.  So  after 
a  while  he  came  to  a  great  highway,  which  was  so  smooth 
that  an  egg  might  have  been  rolled  along  it  without  breaking. 
Halvor  followed  this,  and  when  evening  drew  near  he  saw  a 
big  castle  far  away  in  the  distance,  and  there  were  lights 
in  it.  So  as  he  had  now  been  walking  the  whole  day  and  had 
not  brought  anything  to  eat  away  with  him,  he  was  fright- 
fully hungry.  Nevertheless,  the  nearer  he  came  to  the  castle 
the  more  afraid  he  was. 

A  fire  was  burning  in  the  castle,  and  Halvor  went  into  the 
kitchen,  which  was  more  magnificent  than  any  kitchen  he 
had  ever  yet  beheld.  There  were  vessels  of  gold  and  silver, 
but  not  one  human  being  was  to  be  seen.  When  Halvor  had 
stood  there  for  some  time,  and  no  one  had  come  out,  he  went 
in  and  opened  a  door,  and  inside  a  princess  was  sitting  at 
her  wheel  spinning. 


32  THE   RED   YAIU1    BOOK. 

"  Nay ! "  she  cried,  "  can  Christian  folk  dare  to  come 
hither  ?  But  the  best  thing  that  you  can  do  is  to  go  away 
again,  for  if  not  the  troll  will  devour  you.  A  troll  with 
three  heads  lives  here." 

"  I  should  have  been  just  as  well  pleased  if  he  had  had 
four  heads  more,  for  I  should  have  enjoyed  seeing  the  fel- 
low," said  the  youth ;  "  and  I  won't  go  away,  for  I  have  done 
no  harm,  but  you  must  give  me  something  to  eat,  for  I  am 
frightfully  hungry." 

When  Halvor  had  eaten  his  fill,  the  princess  told  him  to 
try  if  he  could  wield  the  sword  which  was  hanging  on  the 
wall,  but  he  could  not  wield  it,  nor  could  he  even  lift  it  up. 

"  Well,  then,  you  must  take  a  drink  out  of  that  bottle 
which  is  hanging  by  its  side,  for  that's  what  the  troll  does 
whenever  he  goes  out  and  wants  to  use  the  sword,"  said  the 
princess. 

Halvor  took  a  draught  and  in  a  moment  he  was  able  to 
swing  the  sword  about  with  perfect  ease.  And  now  he 
thought  it  was  high  time  for  the  troll  to  make  his  appear- 
ance, and  at  that  very  moment  he  came,  panting  for  breath. 

Halvor  got  behind  the  door. 

"  Hutetu ! "  said  the  troll,  as  he  put  his  heads  in  at  the 
door.  "  It  smells  just  as  if  there  was  a  Christian  man's 
blood  here ! " 

"  Yes,  you  shall  learn  that  there  is ! "  said  Halvor,  and  cut 
off  all  his  heads. 

The  princess  was  so  rejoiced  to  be  free  that  she  danced 
and  sang,  but  then  she  remembered  her  sisters,  and  said : 

"  If  my  sisters  were  but  free,  too ! " 

"  Where  are  they  ?  "  asked  Halvor. 

So  she  told  him  where  they  were.  One  of  them  had  been 
taken  away  by  a  troll  to  his  castle,  which  was  six  miles  off, 
and  the  other  had  been  carried  off  to  a  castle  which  was  nine 
miles  further  off  still. 

"  But  now,"  said  she,  "  you  must  first  help  me  to  get  this 
dead  body  away  from  here." 

Halvor  was  so  strong  that  he  cleared  everything  away,  and 
made  all  clean  and  tidy  very  quickly.  So  then  they  ate  and 
drank,  and  were  happy,  and  next  morning  he  set  off  in  the 
gray  light  of  dawn.  He  gave  himself  no  rest,  but  walked  or 
ran  the  livelong  day.    When  he  came  in  sight  of  the  castle 


THE   RED    FAIRY   BOOK.  33 

he  was  again  just  a  little  afraid.  It  was  much  more  splen- 
did than  the  other,  but  here,  too,  there  was  not  a  human  be- 
ing to  be  seen.  So  Halvor  went  into  the  kitchen,  and  did 
not  linger  there  either,  but  went  straight  in. 

"  Nay !  do  Christian  folk  dare  to  come  here  % "  cried  the 
second  princess.  "  I  do  not  know  how  long  it  is  since  I  my- 
self came,  but  during  all  that  time  I  have  never  seen  a 
Christian  man.  It  will  be  better  for  you  to  depart  at  once, 
for  a  troll  lives  here  who  has  six  heads." 

"  No,  I  shall  not  go,"  said  Halvor ;  "  even  if  he  had  six  more 
I  would  not." 

"  He  will  swallow  you  up  alive,"  said  the  princess. 

But  she  spoke  to  no  purpose,  for  Halvor  would  not  go;  he 
was  not  afraid  of  the  troll,  but  he  wanted  some  meat  and 
drink,  for  he  was  hungry  after  his  journey.  So  she  gave  him 
as  much  as  he  would  have,  and  then  she  once  more  tried  to 
make  him  go  away. 

"No,"  said  Halvor,  "I  will  not  go,  for  I  have  not  done 
anything  wrong,  and  I  have  no  reason  to  be  afraid." 

"He  won't  ask  any  questions  about  that,"  said  the  prin- 
cess, "for  he  will  take  you  without  leave  or  right;  but  as 
you  will  not  go,  try  if  you  can  wield  that  sword  which  the 
troll  uses  in  battle." 

He  could  not  wield  the  sword ;  so  the  princess  said  that  he 
was  to  take  a  draught  from  the  flask  which  hung  by  its  side, 
and  when  he  had  done  that  he  could  wield  the  sword. 

Soon  afterward  the  troll  came,  and  he  was  so  large  and 
stout  that  he  was  forced  to  go  sideways  to  get  through  the 
door.    When  the  troll  got  his  first  head  in  he  cried : 

"  Hutetu !    It  smells  of  a  Christian  man's  blood  here !  " 

With  that  Halvor  cut  off  the  first  head,  and  so  on,  with 
all  the  rest.  The  princess  was  now  exceedingly  delighted, 
but  then  she  remembered  her  sisters,  and  wished  that  they 
too,  were  free.  Halvor  thought  that  might  be  managed,  and 
wanted  to  set  off  immediately;  but  first  he  had  to  help  the 
princess  to  remove  the  troll's  body,  so  that  it  was  not  until 
morning  that  he  set  forth  on  his  way. 

It  was  a  long  way  to  the  castle,  and  he  both  walked  and 
ran  to  get  there  in  time.  Late  in  the  evening  he  caught 
sight  of  it,  and  it  was  very  much  more  magnificent  than 
either  of  the  others.    And  this  time  he  was  not  the  least  bit 


34 


THE   RED    FAIRY   BOOK. 


afraid,  but  went  into  the  kitchen  and  then  straight  on  inside 
the  castle.  There  a  princess  was  sitting  who  was  so  beau- 
tiful that  there  was  never  anyone  to  equal  her.  She,  too, 
said  what  the  others  had  said,  that  no  Christian  folk  had 
ever  been  there  since  she  had  come,  and  entreated  him  to 


go  away  again,  or  else  the  troll  would  swallow  him  up  alive. 
The  troll  had  nine  heads,  she  told  him. 

"Yes,  and  if  he  had  nine  added  to  the  nine,  and  then 
nine  more  still,  I  would  not  go  away,"  said  Halvor,  and  went 
and  stood  by  the  stove. 

The  princess  begged  him  very  prettily  to  go  lest  the  troll 
should  devour  him ;  but  Halvor  said,  "  Let  him  come  when  he 
will." 

So  she  gave  him  the  troll's  sword,  and  bade  him  take  a 
drink  from  the  flask  to  enable  him  to  wield  it. 


THE   RED    FAIRY   BOOK.  35 

At  the  same  moment  the  troll  came,  breathing  hard,  and 
he  Was  ever  so  much  bigger  and  stouter  than  either  of  the 
others,  and  he,  too,  was  forced  to  go  sideways  to  get  in 
through  the  door. 

"  Hutetu !  what  a  smell  of  Christian  blood  there  is  here ! " 
said  he. 

Then  Halvor  cut  off  the  first  head,  and  after  that  the 
others,  but  the  last  was  the  toughest  of  them  all,  and  it  was 
the  hardest  work  that  Halvor  had  ever  done  to  get  it  off,  but 
he  still  believed  he  would  have  strength  enough  to  do  it. 

And  now  all  the  princesses  came  to  the  castle  and  were  to- 
gether again,  and  they  were  happier  than  they  had  ever  been 
in  their  lives;  and  they  were  delighted  with  Halvor,  and  he 
with  them,  and  he  was  to  choose  the  one  he  liked  best ;  but  of 
the  three  sisters  the  youngest  loved  him  best. 

But  Halvor  went  about  and  was  so  strange  and  so  mourn- 
ful and  quiet  that  the  princesses  asked  what  it  was  that  he 
longed  for,  and  if  he  did  not  like  to  be  with  them.  He  said 
that  he  did  like  to  be  with  them,  for  they  had  enough  to  live 
on,  and  he  was  very  comfortable  there;  but  he  longed  to  go 
home,  for  his  father  and  mother  were -alive,  and  he  had  a 
great  desire  to  see  them  again. 

They  thought  that  this  might  easily  be  done. 

"  You  shall  go  and  return  in  perfect  safety  if  you  will  fol- 
low our  advice,"  said  the  princesses. 

So  he  said  that  he  would  do  nothing  that  they  did  not  wish. 

Then  they  dressed  him  so  splendidly  that  he  was  like  a 
king's  son ;  and  they  put  a  ring  on  his  finger,  and  it  was  one 
which  would  enable  him  to  go  there  and  back  again  by  wish- 
ing, but  they  told  him  he  must  not  throw  it  away  or  name 
their  names;  for  if  he  did,  all  his  magnificence  would  be  at 
an  end,  and  then  he  would  never  see  them  more. 

"  If  I  were  but  at  home  again,  or  if  home  were  but  here !  " 
said  Halvor,  and  no  sooner  had  he  wished  this  than  it  was 
granted.  Halvor  was  standing  outside  his  father  and 
mother's  cottage  before  he  knew  what  he  was  about.  The 
darkness  of  night  was  coming  on,  and  when  the  father  and 
mother  saw  such  a  stately  stranger  walk  in  they  were  so  star- 
tled that  they  both  began  to  bow  and  courtesy. 

Halvor  then  inquired  if  he  could  stay  there  and  have  lodg- 
ing for  the  night.     No,  that  he  certainly  could  not.     "We 


36  THE   EED    FAIRY    BOOK. 

can  give  you  no  such  accommodations,"  they  said,  "  for  we 
have  none  of  the  things  that  are  needful  when  a  great  lord 
like  you  is  to  be  entertained.  It  will  be  better  for  you  to  go 
up  to  the  farm.  It  is  not  far  off,  you  can  see  the  chimney- 
pots from  here,  and  there  they  have  plenty  of  everything." 

Halvor  would  not  hear  of  that,  he  was  absolutely  deter- 
mined to  stay  where  he  was;  but  the  old  folks  stuck  to 
what  they  had  said,  and  told  him  that  he  was  to  go  to  the 
farm,  where  he  could  get  both  meat  and  drink,  whereas  they 
themselves  had  not  even  a  chair  to  offer  him. 

"  No,"  said  Halvor,  "  I  will  not  go  up  there  till  early  to- 
morrow morning;  let  me  stay  here  to-night.  I  can  sit  down 
on  the  hearth." 

They  could  say  nothing  against  that,  so  Halvor  sat  down 
on  the  hearth  and  began  to  rake  about  among  the  ashes  just 
as  he  had  done  before,  when  he  lay  there  idling  away  his 
time. 

They  chattered  much  about  many  things,  and  told  Halvor 
of  this  and  of  that,  and  at  last  he  asked  them  if  they  had 
never  had  any  child. 

"  Yes,"  they  said ;  they  had  had  a  boy  who  was  called  Hal- 
vor, but  they  did  not  know  where  he  had  gone,  and  they  could 
not  even  say  whether  he  were  dead  or  alive. 

"  Could  I  be  he  ?  "  said  Halvor. 

"I  should  know  him  well  enough,"  said  the  old  woman, 
rising.  "  Our  Halvor  was  so  idle  and  slothful  that  he  never 
did  anything  at  all,  and  he  was  so  ragged  that  one  hole  ran 
into  another  all  over  his  clothes.  Such  a  fellow  as  he  was 
could  never  turn  into  such  a  man  as  you  are,  sir." 

In  a  short  time  the  old  woman  had  to  go  to  the  fireplace 
to  stir  the  fire,  and  when  the  blaze  lit  up  Halvor,  as  it  used 
to  do  when  he  was  at  home  raking  up  the  ashes,  she  knew  him 
again. 

"  Good  heavens !  is  that  you,  Halvor  ?  "  said  she,  and  such  a 
great  gladness  fell  over  the  old  parents  there  were  no  bounds 
to  it.  And  now  he  had  to  relate  everything  that  had  befallen 
him,  and  the  old  woman  was  so  delighted  with  him  that  she 
would  take  him  up  to  the  farm  at  once  to  show  him  to  the 
girls  who  had  formerly  looked  down  on  him  so.  She  went 
there  first,  and  Halvor  followed  her.  When  she  got  there 
she  told  them  how  Halvor  had  come  home  again,  and  now 


THE   RED   FAIRY    BOOK.  37 

they  should  just  see  how  magnificent  he  was.  "  He  looks  like 
a  prince,"  she  said. 

"  We  shall  see  that  he  is  just  the  same  ragamuffin  that  he 
was  before,"  said  the  girls,  tossing  their  heads. 

At  that  same  moment  Halvor  entered,  and  the  girls  were 
so  astonished  that  they  left  their  kirtles  lying  in  the  chim- 
ney-corner, and  ran  away  in  nothing  but  their  petticoats. 
When  they  came  in  again  they  were  so  shamefaced  that  they 
hardly  dared  to  look  at  Halvor,  toward  whom  they  had  always 
been  so  proud  and  haughty  before. 

"  Aye,  aye !  you  have  always  thought  you  were  so  pretty 
and  dainty  that  no  one  was  equal  to  you,"  said  Halvor,  "  but 
you  should  just  see  the  eldest  princess  whom  I  set  free.  You 
look  like  herdswomen  compared  with  her,  and  the  second 
princess  is  also  much  prettier  than  you;  but  the  youngest, 
who  is  my  sweetheart,  is  more  beautiful  than  either  sun  or 
moon.  I  wish  to  Heaven  they  were  here,  and  then  you  could 
see  them." 

Scarcely  had  he  said  this  before  they  were  standing  by  his 
side,  but  then  he  was  very  sorrowful,  for  the  words  which 
they  had  said  to  him  came  to  his  mind. 

Up  at  the  farm  a  great  feast  was  made  ready  for  the  prin- 
cesses, and  much  respect  paid  to  them,  but  they  would  not 
stay  there. 

"  We  want  to  go  down  to  your  parents,"  they  said  to  Hal- 
vor, "  so  we  will  go  out  and  look  about  us." 

He  followed  them  out,  and  they  came  to  a  large  pond  out- 
side the  farm-house.  Very  near  the  water  there  was  a  pretty 
green  bank,  and  there  the  princesses  said  they  would  sit  down 
and  while  away  an  hour,  for  they  thought  it  would  be  pleas- 
ant to  sit  and  look  out  over  the  water,  they  said. 

Here  they,  sat  down,  and  when  they  had  sat  for  a  short 
time  the  youngest  princess  said,  "  I  may  as  well  comb  your 
hair  a  little,  Halvor." 

So  Halvor  laid  his  head  down  on  her  lap  and  she  combed 
it,  and  it  was  not  long  before  he  fell  asleep.  Then  she  took 
her  ring  from  him  and  put  another  in  its  place,  and  then 
she  said  to  her  sisters :  "  Hold  me  as  I  am  holding  you.  I 
would  that  we  were  at  Soria  Moria  Castle." 

When  Halvor  awoke  he  knew  that  he  had  lost  the  prin- 
cesses, and  began  to  weep  and  lament,  and  was  so  unhappy 


38  TEE   RED    FAIRY   BOOK. 

that  he  could  not  be  comforted.  In  spite  of  all  his  father's 
and  mother's  entreaties,  he  would  not  stay,  but  bade  them 
farewell,  saying  that  he  would  never  see  them  more,  for  if  he 
did  not  find  the  princess  again  he  did  not  think  it  worth 
while  to  live. 

He  again  had  three  hundred  dollars,  which  he  put  into  his 
pocket  and  went  on  his  way.  When  he  had  walked  some  dis- 
tance he  met  a  man  with  a  tolerably  good  horse.  Halvor 
longed  to  buy  it,  and  began  to  bargain  with  the  man. 

"  Well,  I  have  not  exactly  been  thinking  of  selling  him." 
said  the  man,  "but  if  we  could  agree,  perhaps " 

Halvor  inquired  how  much  he  wanted  to  have  for  the  horse. 

"  I  did  not  give  much  for  him,  and  he  is  not  worth  much ; 
he  is  a  capital  horse  to  ride,  but  good  for  nothing  at  draw- 
ing; but  he  will  always  be  able  to  carry  your  bag  of  pro- 
visions and  you,  too,  if  you  walk  and  ride  by  turns."  At  last 
they  agreed  about  the  price,  and  Halvor  laid  his  bag  on  the 
horse,  and  sometimes  he  walked  and  sometimes  he  rode.  In 
the  evening  he  came  to  a  green  field  where  stood  a  great  tree, 
under  which  he  seated  himself.  Then  he  let  the  horse  loose 
and  lay  down  to  sleep,  but  before  he  did  that  he  took  his  bag 
off  the  horse.  At  daybreak  he  set  off  again,  for  he  did  not 
feel  as  if  he  could  take  any  rest.  So  he  walked  and  rode  the 
whole  day,  through  a  great  wood  where  there  were  many 
green  places  which  gleamed  very  prettily  among  the  trees. 
He  did  not  know  where  he  was  or  whither  he  was  going,  but 
he  never  lingered  longer  in  any  place  than  was  enough  to  let 
his  horse  get  a  little  food  when  they  came  to  one  of  those 
green  spots,  while  he  himself  took  out  his  bag  of  provisions. 

So  he  walked  and  he  rode,  and  it  seemed  to  him  that  the 
wood  would  never  come  to  an  end.  But  on  the  evening  of  the 
second  day  he  saw  a  light  shining  through  the  trees. 

"If  only  there  were  some  people  up  there  I  might  warm 
myself  and  get  something  to  eat,"  thought  Halvor. 

When  he  got  to  the  place  where  the  light  had  come  from, 
he  saw  a  wretched  little  cottage,  and  through  a  small  pane  of 
glass  he  saw  a  couple  of  old  folks  inside.  They  were  very 
old,  and  as  gray-headed  as  a  pigeon,  and  the  old  woman  had 
such  a  long  nose  that  she  sat  in  the  chimney-corner  and  used 
it  to  stir  the  fire. 

a  Good-evening !  good-evening !  "  said  the  old  hag ;  "  but 


THE   EED    FAIRY   BOOK.  39 

what  errand  have  you  that  can  bring  you  here?  No  Chris- 
tian folk  have  been  here  for  more  than  a  hundred  years." 

So  Halvor  told  her  that  he  wanted  to  get  to  Soria  Moria 
Castle,  and  inquired  if  she  knew  the  way  thither. 

"  No,"  said  the  old  woman,  "  that  I  do  not,  but  the  moon 
will  be  here  presently  and  I  will  ask  her,  and  she  will  know. 
She  can  easily  see  it  for  she  shines  on  all  things." 

So  when  the  moon  stood  clear  and  bright  above  the  tree- 
tops  the  old  woman  went  out.  "  Moon !  moon !  "  she  screamed, 
"  Canst  thou  tell  me  the  way  to  Soria  Moria  Castle  ?  " 

"  No,"  said  the  moon,  "  that  I  can't,  for  when  I  shone  there, 
there  was  a  cloud  before  me." 

"  Wait  a  little  longer,"  said  the  old  woman  to  Halvor,  "  for 
the  west  wind  will  presently  be  here,  and  he  will  know  it, 
for  he  breathes  gently  or  blows  into  every  corner. 

"  What !  have  you  a  horse,  too  ? "  she  said  when  she  came 
in  again.  "  Oh !  let  the  poor  creature  loose  in  our  bit  of 
fenced-in  pasture,  and  don't  let  it  stand  there  starving  at 
our  very  door.  But  won't  you  exchange  him  with  me?  We 
have  a  pair  of  old  boots  here  with  which  you  can  go  fifteen 
quarters  of  a  mile  at  each  step.  You  shall  have  them  for  the 
horse,  and  then  you  will  be  able  to  get  sooner  to  Soria  Moria 
castle." 

Halvor  consented  to  this  at  once,  and  the  old  woman  was 
so  delighted  with  the  horse  that  she  was  ready  to  dance. 
"For  now  I,  too,  shall  be  able  to  ride  to  church,"  she  said. 
Halvor  could  take  no  rest  and  wanted  to  set  off  immediately; 
but  the  old  woman  said  that  there  was  no  need  to  hasten. 
"Lie  down  on  the  bench  and  sleep  a  little,  for  we  have  no 
bed  to  offer  you,"  said  she,  "  and  I  will  watch  for  the  coming 
of  the  west  wind." 

Ere  long  came  the  west  wind,  roaring  so  loud  that  the 
walls  creaked. 

The  old  woman  went  out  and  cried : 

"West  wind!  west  wind!  Canst  thou  tell  me  the  way  to 
Soria  Moria  Castle  ?    Here  is  one  who  would  go  thither." 

"  Yes,  I  know  it  well,"  said  the  west  wind.  "  I  am  just  on 
my  way  there  to  dry  the  clothes  for  the  wedding  which  is  to 
take  place.    If  he  is  fleet  of  foot  he  can  go  with  me." 

Out  ran  Halvor. 

"  You  will  have  to  make  haste  if  you  mean  to  go  with  me," 


40 


THE    RED    FAIRY   BOOK. 


said  the  west  wind;  and  away  it  went  over  hill  and  dale,  and 
moor  and  morass,  and  Halvor  had  enough  to  do  to  keep  up 
with  it. 

"  Well,  now  I  have  no  time  to  stay  with  you  any  longer," 
said  the  west  wind,  "for  I  must  first  go  and  tear  uwn  a  bit 
of  spruce  fir  before  I  go  to  the  bleaching-ground  to  dry  the 
clothes;  but  just  go  along  the  side  of  the  hill  and  you  will 
come  to  some  girls  who  are  standing  there  washing  clothes, 
and  then  you  will  not  have  to  walk  far  before  you  are  at 
Soria  Moria  Castle." 

Shortly  afterward  Halvor  came  to  the  girls  who  were  stand- 
foil  washing,  and  they  asked  him  if  he  had  seen  anything 


fcf  the  west  wind,  who  was  to  come  there  to  dry  the  clothes 
for  the  wedding. 

" Yes,"  said  Halvor,  "he  has  only  ^one  to  break  down  a 
bit  of  spruce  fir.  It  won't  be  long  before  he  is  here."  And 
then  he  asked  them  the  way  to  Soria  Moria  Castle.  They 
put  him  in  the  right  way,  and  when  he  came  in  front  of  the 
castle  it  was  so  full  of  horses  and  people  that  it  swarmed 
with  them.  But  Halvor  was  so  ragged  and  torn  with  follow- 
ing the  west  wind  through  bushes  and  bogs  that  h  kept  on 
one  side,  and  would  not  go  among  the  crowd  unti>  the  last 
day,  when  the  feast  was  at  noon. 


THE   RED   FAIET   BOOK. 


41 


So  when,  as  was  the  usage  and  custom,  all  were  to  drink 
to  the  bride  and  the  young  giris  who  were  present,  the  cup- 
bearer filled  the  cup  for  each  in  turn,  both  bride  and  bride- 
groom, and  knights  and  servants,  and  at  last,  after  a  very 


long  time,  he  came  to  Halvor.  He  drank  their  health,  and 
then  slipped  the  ring  which  the  princess  had  put  on  his  finger 
when  they  were  sitting  by  the  waterside  into  the  glass,  and 
ordered  the  cup-bearer  to  carry  the  glass  to  the  bride  from 
him  and  greet  her. 

Then  the  princess  at  once  rose  up  from  the  table,  and  said, 
"Who  is  most  worthy  to  have  one  of  us — he  who  has  de- 


42  THE    RED    FAIRY   BOOK. 

livered  us  from  the  trolls  or  he  who  is  sitting  here  as  bride- 
groom ?  " 

There  could  be  but  one  opinion  as  to  that,  everyone 
thought,  and  when  Halvor  heard  what  they  said  he  was 
not  long  in  flinging  off  his  beggar's  rags  and  arraying  himself 
as  a  bridegroom. 

"Yes,  he  is  the  right  one,"  cried  the  youngest  princess 
when  she  caught  sight  of  him;  so  she  flung  the  other  out  of 
the  window  and  held  her  wedding  with  Halvor. 


THE  DEATH  OF  KOSHCHEI  THE  DEATHLESS .» 

In  a  certain  kingdom  there  lived  a  Prince  Ivan.  He  had 
three  sisters.  The  first  was  the  Princess  Marya,  the  second 
the  Princess  Olga,  the  third  the  Princess  Anna.  When  their 
father  and  mother  lay  at  the  point  of  death,  they  had  thus 
enjoined  their  son :  "  Give  your  sisters  in  marriage  to  the 
very  first  suitors  who  come  to  woo  them.  Don't  go  keeping 
them  by  you !  " 

They  died,  and  the  prince  buried  them,  and  then,  to  solace 
his  grief,  he  went  with  his  sisters  into  the  garden  green  to 
stroll.  Suddenly  the  sky  was  covered  by  a  black  cloud ;  a  ter- 
rible storm  arose. 

"  Let  us  go  home,  sisters !  "  he  cried. 

Hardly  had  they  got  into  the  palace  when  the  thunder 
pealed,  the  ceiling  split  open,  and  into  the  room  where  they 
were  came  flying  a  falcon  bright.  The  falcon  smote  upon 
the  ground,  became  a  brave  youth,  and  said : 

"  Hail,  Prince  Ivan !  Before  I  came  as  a  guest,  but  now  I 
have  come  as  a  wooer !  I  wish  to  propose  for  your  sister,  the 
Princess  Marya." 

"  If  you  find  favor  in  the  eyes  of  my  sister,  I  will  not  in- 
terfere with  her  wishes.    Let  her  marry  you,  in  God's  name !  " 

The  Princess  Marya  gave  her  consent;  the  falcon  married 
her  and  bore  her  away  into  his  own  realm. 

Days  follow  days,  hours  chase  hours ;  a  whole  year  goes  by. 
One  day  Prince  Ivan  and  his  sisters  went  out  to  stroll  in 
the  garden  green.  Again  there  arose  a  storm-cloud,  with 
whirlwind  and  lightning. 

*  Ralston. 


THE   RED    FAIRY    BOOK.  43 

"  Let  us  go  home,  sisters !  "  cries  the  prince.  Scarcely  had 
they  entered  the  palace  when  the  thunder  crashed,  the  roof 
burst  into  a  blaze,  the  ceiling  split  in  twain,  and  in  flew  an 
eagle.  The  eagle  smote  upon  the  ground,  and  became  a  brave 
youth. 

"Hail,  Prince  Ivan!  Before  I  came  as  a  guest,  but 
now  I  have  come  as  a  wooer ! " 

And  he  asked  for  the  hand  of  the  Princess  Olga.  Prince 
Ivan  replied : 

"If  you  find  favor  in  the  eyes  of  the  Princess  Olga,  then 
let  her  marry  you.  I  will  not  interfere  with  her  liberty  of 
choice." 

The  Princess  Olga  gave  her  consent  and  married  the 
eagle.  The  eagle  took  her  and  carried  her  off  to  his  own 
kingdom. 

Another  year  went  by.  Prince  Ivan  said  to  his  youngest 
sister : 

"  Let  us  go  out  and  stroll  in  the  garden  green ! " 

They  strolled  about  for  a  time.  Again  there  arose  a  storm- 
cloud,  with  whirlwind  and  lightning. 

"  Let  us  return  home,  sister !  "  said  he. 

They  returned  home,  but  they  hadn't  had  time  to  sit  down 
then  the  thunder  crashed,  the  ceiling  split  open  and  in  flew 
a  raven.  The  raven  smote  upon  the  floor  and  became  a  brave 
youth.  The  former  youths  had  been  handsome,  but  this  one 
was  handsomer  still. 

"Well,  Prince  Ivan!  Before  I  came  as  a  guest,  but  now 
I  have  come  as  a  wooer!  Give  me  the  Princess  Anna  to 
wife." 

"  I  won't  interfere  with  my  sister's  freedom.  If  you  gain 
her  affections,  let  her  marry  you." 

So  the  Princess  Anna  married  the  raven,  and  he  bore 
her  away  into  his  own  realm.  Prince  Ivan  was  left  alone.  A 
whole  year  he  lived  without  his  sisters ;  then  he  grew  weary, 
and  said: 

"  I  will  set  out  in  search  of  my  sisters." 

He  got  ready  for  the  journey,  he  rode  and  rode,  and  one 
day  he  saw  a  whole  army  lying  dead  on  the  plain.  He  cried 
aloud,  "  If  there  be  a  living  man  there  let  him  make  answer ! 
Who  has  slain  this  mighty  host  ? " 

There  replied  unto  him  a  living  man: 


44  THE   RED   FAIRY    BOOK. 

"All  this  mighty  host  has  been  slain  by  the  fair  Prin- 
cess Marya  Morevna." 

Prince  Ivan  rode  further  on,  and  came  to  a  white  tent, 
and  forth  came  to  meet  him  the  fair  Princess  Marya  Mor- 
evna. 

"  Hail,  prince !  "  says  she ;  "  whither  does  God  send  you  ? 
and  is  it  of  your  free  will  or  against  your  will  ? "    - 

Prince  Ivan  replied:  "Not  against  their  will  do  brave 
youths  ride!" 

"Well,  if  your  business  be  not  pressing,  tarry  awhile 
in  my  tent." 

Thereat  was  Prince  Ivan  glad.  He  spent  two  nights  in 
the  tent  and  he  found  favor  in  the  eyes  of  Marya  Morevna, 
and  she  married  him.  The  fair  princess,  Marya  Morevna, 
carried  him  off  into  her  own  realm. 

They  spent  some  time  together,  and  then  the  princess  took 
it  into  her  head  to  go  a-warring.  So  she  handed  over  all 
the  housekeeping  affairs  to  Prince  Ivan,  and  gave  him  these 
instructions : 

"  Go  about  everywhere,  keep  watch  over  everything ;  only 
do  not  venture  to  look  into  that  closet  there." 

He  couldn't  help  doing  so.  The  moment  Marya  Morevna 
had  gone  he  rushed  to  the  closet,  pulled  open  the  door,  and 
looked  in — there  hung  Koshchei  the  Deathless,  fettered  by 
twelve  chains.  Then  Koshchei  entreated  Prince  Ivan,  say- 
in: 

"Have  pity  upon  me  and  give  me  to  drink!  Ten  years 
long  have  I  been  here  in  torment,  neither  eating  nor  drink- 
ing ;  my  throat  is  utterly  dried  up." 

The  prince  gave  him  a  bucketful  of  water;  he  drank  it 
up  and  asked  for  more,  saying: 

"  A  single  bucket  of  water  will  not  quench  my  thirst ;  give 
me  more !  " 

The  prince  gave  him  a  second  bucketful.  Koshchei 
drank  it  up  and  asked  for  a  third,  and  when  he  had  swal- 
lowed the  third  bucketful  he  regained  his  former  strength, 
gave  his  chains  a  shake,  and  broke  all  twelve  at  once. 

"  Thanks,  Prince  Ivan ! "  cried  Koshchei  the  Deathless, 
"now  you  will  sooner  see  your  own  ears  than  Marya  Mor- 
evna !  "  and  out  of  the  window  he  flew  in  the  shape  of  a  ter- 
rible whirlwind.     And  he  came  up  with  the  fair  Princess 


THE   RED    FAIRY   BOOK. 


45 


Marya  Morevna  as  she  was  going  her  way,  laid  hold  of  her 
and  carried  her  off  home  with  him.  But  Prince  Ivan  wept 
full  sore,  and  he  arrayed  himself  and  set  out  a-wandering, 
saying  to  himself,  "  Whatever  happens  I  will  go  and  look 
for  Marya  Morevna !  * 

One  day  passed,  another  day  passed;  at  the  dawn  of  the 
third  day  he  saw  a  wondrous  palace,  and  by  the  side  of  the 


palace  stood  an  oak,  and  on  the  oak  sat  a  falcon  bright. 

Down  flew  the  falcon  from  the  oak,  smote  upon  the  ground, 

turned  into  a  brave  youth,  and  cried  aloud : 

"  Ha,  dear  brother-in-law !  how  deals  the  Lord  with  you  ?  " 
Out  came  running  the  Princess  Marya,  joyfully  greeted 

her  brother  Ivan,  and  began  inquiring  after  his  health,  and 


46  THE   BED    FAIEY   BOOK. 

telling  him  all  about  herself.  The  prince  spent  three  days 
with  them;  then  he  said: 

"  I  cannot  abide  with  you ;  I  must  go  in  search  of  my  wife, 
the  fair  Princess  Marya  Morevna." 

"  Hard  will  it  be  for  you  to  find  her,"  answered  the  fal- 
con. "  At  all  events,  leave  with  us  your  silver  spoon.  We 
will  look  at  it  and  remember  you."  So  Prince  Ivan  left  his 
silver  spoon  at  the  falcon's,  and  went  on  his  way  again. 

On  he  went  one  day,  on  he  went  another  day,  and  by  the 
dawn  of  the  third  day  he  saw  a  palace  still  grander  than  the 
former  one,  and  hard  by  the  palace  stood  an  oak,  and  on  the 
oak  sat  an  eagle.  Down  flew  the  eagle  from  the  oak,  smote 
upon  the  ground,  turned  into  a  brave  youth,  and  cried  aloud : 

"  Kise  up,  Princess  Olga !    Here  comes  our  brother  dear !  " 

The  Princess  Olga  immediately  ran  to  meet  him,  and  be- 
gan kissing  him  and  embracing  him,  asking  after  his  health, 
and  telling  him  all  about  herself.  With  them  Prince  Ivan 
stopped  three  days;  then  he  said: 

"I  cannot  stay  here  any  longer.  I  am  going  to  look  for 
my  wife,  the  fair  Princess  Marya  Morevna." 

"Hard  will  it  be  for  you  to  find  her,"  replied  the  eagle. 
"  Leave  with  us  a  silver  fork.  We  will  look  at  it  and  re- 
member you." 

He  left  a  silver  fork  behind  and  went  his  way.  He  trav- 
eled one  day,  he  traveled  two  days;  at  daybreak  on  the  third 
day  he  saw  a  palace  grander  than  the  first  two,  and  near  the 
palace  stood  an  oak,  and  on  the  oak  sat  a  raven.  Down  flew 
the  raven  from  the  oak,  smote  upon  the  ground,  turned  into 
a  brave  youth,  and  cried  aloud : 

"Princess  Anna,  come  forth  quickly!  our  brother  is  com- 
ing." 

Out  ran  the  Princess  Anna,  greeted  him  joyfully,  and  be- 
gan kissing  and  embracing  him,  asking  after  his  health  and 
telling  him  all  about  herself.  Prince  Ivan  stayed  with  them 
three  days;  then  he  said: 

"  Farewell !  I  am  going  to  look  for  my  wife,  the  fair  Prin- 
cess Marya  Morevna." 

"Hard  will  it  be  for  you  to  find  her,"  replied  the  raven. 
"Anyhow,  leave  your  silver  snuff-box  with  us.  We  will  look 
at  it  and  remember  you." 

The  prince  handed  over  his  silver  snuff-box,  took  his  leave, 


THE   RED   FAIRY   BOOK.  .  fc.jf 

and  went  his  way.  One  day  he  went,  another  day  he  went, 
and  on  the  third  day  he  came  to  where  Marya  Morevna  was. 
She  caught  sight  of  her  love,  flung  her  arms  around  his  neck, 
burst  into  tears  and  exclaimed: 

"  Oh,  Prince  Ivan !  why  did  you  disobey  me  and  go  look- 
ing into  the  closet  and  letting  out  Koshchei  the  Deathless  ? " 

"Forgive  me,  Marya  Morevna.  Remember  not  the  past; 
much  better  fly  with  me  while  Koshchei  the  Deathless  is 
out  of  sight.     Perhaps  he  won't  catch  us." 

So  they  got  ready  and  fled.  Now  Koshchei  was  out  hunt- 
ing. Toward  evening  he  was  returning  home,  when  his  good 
steed  stumbled  beneath  him. 

"Why  stumblest  thou,  sorry  jade?  Scentest  thou  some 
ill?" 

The  steed  replied : 

"Prince  Ivan  has  come  and  carried  off  Marya  Morevna." 

"  Is  it  possible  to  catch  them  ? " 

"It  is  possible  to  sow  wheat,  to  wait  till  it  grows  up,  to 
reap  it  and  thresh  it,  to  grind  it  to  flour,  to  make  five  pies  of 
it,  to  eat  those  pies,  and  then  to  start  in  pursuit — and  even 
then  to  be  in  time." 

Koshchei  galloped  off  and  caught  up  Prince  Ivan. 

"  Now,"  says  he,  "  this  time  I  will  forgive  you  in  return 
for  your  kindness  in  giving  me  water  to  drink.  And  a  sec- 
ond time  I  will  forgive  you;  but  the  third  time,  beware!  I 
will  cut  you  to  bits." 

Then  he  took  Marya  Morevna  from  him  and  carried  her 
off.  But  Prince  Ivan  sat  down  upon  a  stone  and  burst  into 
tears.  He  wept  and  wept — and  then  returned  back  again  to 
Marya  Morevna.  Now  Koshchei  the  Deathless  happened  not 
to  be  at  home. 

"  Let  us  fly,  Marya  Morevna !  " 

"  Ah,  Prince  Ivan !  he  will  catch  us." 

"  Suppose  he  does  catch  us.  At  all  events  we  shall  have 
spent  an  hour  or  two  together." 

So  they  got  ready  and  fled.  As  Koshchei  the  Deathless 
was  returning  home,  his  good  steed  stumbled  beneath  him. 

"Why  stumblest  thou,  sorry  jade?  Scentest  thou  some 
ill?" 

"Prince  Ivan  has  come  and  carried  off  Marya  Morevna/J 

"  Is  it  possible  to  catch  them  ?  " 


48  THE    RED    FAIRY   BOOK. 

"It  is  possible  to  sow  barley,  to  wait  till  it  grows  up,  to 
reap  it  and  thresh  it,  to  brew  beer,  to  drink  ourselves  drunk 
on  it,  to  sleep  our  fill,  and  then  to  set  off  in  pursuit — and  yet 
to  be  in  time." 

Koshchei  galloped  off,  caught  up  Prince  Ivan. 

"  Didn't  I  tell  you  that  you  should  not  see  Marya  Mor- 
evna any  more  than  your  own  ears  ? " 

And  he  took  her  away  and  carried  her  off  home  with  him. 

Prince  Ivan  was  left  there  alone.  He  wept  and  wept. 
Then  he  went  back  again  after  Marya  Morevna.  Koshchei 
happened  to  be  away  from  home  at  that  moment. 

"  Let  us  fly,  Marya  Morevna !  " 

"  Ah,  Prince  Ivan !  he  is  sure  to  catch  us  and  hew  you  in 
pieces." 

"  Let  him  hew  away !    I  cannot  live  without  you." 

So  they  got  ready  and  fled. 

Koshchei  the  Deathless  was  returning  home  when  his  good 
steed  stumbled  beneath  him. 

"  Why  stumblest  thou  ?     Scentest  thou  any  ill  ?  " 

"  Prince  Ivan  has  come  and  has  carried  off  Marya  Mor- 
evna." 

Koshchei  galloped  off,  caught  Prince  Ivan,  chopped  him 
into  little  pieces,  put  them  into  a  barrel,  smeared  it  with 
pitch  and  bound  it  with  iron  hoops,  and  flung  it  into  the 
blue  sea.    But  Marya  Morevna  he  carried  off  home. 

At  that  very  time  the  silver  articles  turned  black  which 
Prince  Ivan  had  left  with  his  brothers-in-law. 

u  Ah !  "  said  they,  "  the  evil  is  accomplished,  sure  enough !  " 

Then  the  eagle  hurried  to  the  blue  sea,  caught  hold  of  the 
barrel  and  dragged  it  ashore;  the  falcon  flew  away  for  the 
water  of  life,  and  the  raven  for  the  water  of  death. 

Afterward  they  all  three  met,  broke  open  the  barrel,  took 
out  the  remains  of  Prince  Ivan,  washed  them,  and  put  them 
together  in  fitting  order.  The  raven  sprinkled  them  with  the 
water  of  death — the  pieces  joined  together,  the  body  became 
whole.  The  falcon  sprinkled  it  with  the  water  of  life — 
Prince  Ivan  shuddered,  stood  up,  and  said: 

"  Ah !  wnat  a  time  I've  been  sleeping !  " 

"You'd  have  gone  on  sleeping  a  good  deal  longer  if  it 
hadn't  been  for  us,"  replied  his  brothers-in-law.  "  Now  come 
and  pay  us  a  visit." 


THE    RED    FAIRY    BOOK. 


49 


"  ITay,  brothers ;  I  shall  go  and  look  for  Marya  Morevna." 

And  when  he  had  found  her,  he  said  to  her: 

u  find  out  from  Koshchei  the  Deathless  from  whence  k^ 

got  so  good  a  steed." 

So  Marya  Morevna  chose  a  favorable  moment,  and  began 

asking  Koshchei  about  it.    Koshchei  replied : 

"  Beyond  thrice  nine  lands,  in  the  thirtieth  kingdom,  on 

the  other  side  of  the  fiery  river,  there  lives  a  baba  yaga.     She 

has  so  good  a  mare  that  she  flies  right  round  the  worid  on  it 


every  day.  And  she  has  many  other  splendid  mares.  I 
watched  her  herds  for  three  days  without  losing  a  single 
mare,  and  in  return  for  that  the  baba  yaga  gave  me  a  foal." 
"  But  how  did  you  get  across  the  fiery  river  ?  " 
"  ^hv,  I've  a  handkerchief  of  this  kind — when  I  wave  it 
thrice  on  the  right  hand,  there  springs  up  a  very  lofty  bridge, 
and  the  fire  cannot  reach  it." 

Marya  Morevna  listened  to  all  this  and  repeated  it  to 
Prince  Ivan,  and  she  carried  off  the  handkerchief  and  gave 
it  to  him.    So  he  managed  to  get  across  the  fiery  river,  and 


50  THE   RED    FAIRY   BOOK. 

then  went  on  to  the  baba  yaga's.  Long  went  he  on  without 
getting  anything  either  to  eat  or  to  drink.  At  last  he  came 
across  an  outlandish  bird  and  its  young  ones.  Says  Prince 
Ivan: 

"  I'll  eat  one  of  these  chickens." 

"  Don't  eat  it,  Prince  Ivan ! "  begs  the  outlandish  bird ; 
"  some  time  or  other  I'll  do  you  a  good  turn." 

He  went  on  further  and  saw  a  hive  of  bees  in  the  forest. 

"  I'll  get  a  bit  of  honeycomb,"  says  he. 

"  Don't  disturb  my  honey,  Prince  Ivan ! "  exclaims  the 
queen-bee ;  "  some  time  or  other  I'll  do  you  a  good  turn." 

So  he  didn't  disturb  it,  but  went  on.  Presently  there  met 
him  a  lioness  with  her  cub. 

"  Anyhow,  I'll  eat  this  lion  cub,"  says  he ;  "  I'm  so  hungry 
I  feel  quite  unwell !  " 

"Please  let  us  alone,  Prince  Ivan,"  begs  the  lioness; 
tt  some  time  or  other  I'll  do  you  a  good  turn." 

"  Very  well ;  have  it  your  own  way,"  says  he. 

Hungry  and  faint  he  wandered  on,  walked  further  and 
further,  and  at  last  came  to  where  stood  the  house  of  the 
baba  yaga.  Pound  the  house  were  set  twelve  poles  in  a 
circle,  and  on  each  of  eleven  of  these  poles  was  stuck  a  hu- 
man head;  the  twelfth  alone  remained  unoccupied. 

"Hail,  granny!" 

"  Hail,  Prince  Ivan !  wherefore  have  you  come  ?  Is  it  of 
your  own  accord  or  on  compulsion  ? " 

"  I  have  come  to  earn  from  you  an  heroic  steed." 

"  So  be  it,  prince !  You  won't  have  to  serve  a  year  with 
me,  but  just  three  days.  If  you  take  good  care  of  my  mares 
I  will  give  you  an  heroic  steed.  But  if  you  don't — why,  then 
you  mustn't  be  annoyed  at  finding  your  head  stuck  on  top  of 
the  last  pole  up  there." 

Prince  Ivan  agreed  to  these  terms.  The  baba  yaga  gave 
nim  food  and  drink  and  bade  him  set  about  his  business. 
But  the  moment  he  had  driven  the  mares  afield,  they  cocked 
up  their  tails  and  away  they  tore  across  the  meadows  in  all 
directions.  Before  the  prince  had  time  to  look  round  they 
were  all  out  of  sight.  Thereupon  he  began  to  weep  and  to 
disquiet  himself,  and  then  he  sat  down  upon  a  stone  and  went 
to  sleep.  But  when  the  sun  was  near  its  setting  the  outland- 
ish bird  came  flying  up  to  him  and  awakened  him,  saying: 


THE   RED    FAIRY   BOOK.  51 

"Arise,  Prince  Ivan!     The  mares  are  at  home  now." 

The  prince  arose  and  returned  home.  There  the  baba  yaga 
was  storming  and  raging  at  her  mares,  and  shrieking: 

"  Whatever  did  ye  come  home  for  ?  " 

"  How  could  we  help  coming  home  ?  "  said  they.  "  There 
came  flying  birds  from  every  part  of  the  world,  and  all  but 
pecked  our  eyes  out." 

"  Well,  well !  to-morrow  don't  go  galloping  over  the  mead- 
ows, but  disperse  amid  the  thick  forests." 

Prince  Ivan  slept  all  night.  In  the  morning  the  baba  yaga 
says  to  him: 

"  Mind,  Prince !  if  you  don't  take  good  care  of  the  mares, 
if  you  lose  merely  one  of  them — your  bold  head  will  be  stuck 
on  that  pole !  " 

He  drove  the  mares  afield.  Immediately  they  cocked  up 
their  tails  and  dispersed  among  the  thick  forests.  Again 
did  the  prince  sit  down  on  the  stone,  weep  and  weep,  and 
then  go  to  sleep.  The  sun  went  down  behind  the  forest.  Up 
came  running  the  lioness. 

"  Arise,  Prince  Ivan !    The  mares  are  all  collected." 

Prince  Ivan  arose  and  went  home.  More  than  ever  did  the 
baba  yaga  storm  at  her  mares  and  shriek: 

"  Whatever  did  ye  come  back  home  for  ?  " 

"How  could  we  help  coming  back?  Beasts  of  prey  came 
running  at  us  from  all  parts  of  the  world,  and  all  but  tore 
us  utterly  to  pieces." 

"  Well,  to-morrow  run  off  into  the  blue  sea." 

Again  did  Prince  Ivan  sleep  through  the  night.  Next 
morning  the  baba  yaga  sent  him  forth  to  watch  the  mares. 

"  If  you  don't  take  good  care  of  them,"  says  she,  "  your 
bold  head  will  be  stuck  on  that  pole  1 " 

He  drove  the  mares  afield.  Immediately  they  cocked  up 
their  tails,  disappeared  from  sight  and  fled  into  the  blue  sea. 
There  they  stood,  up  to  their  necks  in  water.  Prince  Ivan 
sat  down  on  the  stone,  wept,  and  fell  asleep.  But  when  the 
sun  had  set  behind  the  forest,  up  came  flying  a  bee,  and  said : 

"Arise,  prince!  The  mares  are  all  collected.  But  when 
you  get  home  don't  let  the  baba  yaga  set  eyes  on  you,  but  go 
into  the  stable  and  hide  behind  the  mangers.  There  you  will 
find  a  sorry  colt  rolling  in  the  muck.  Do  you  steal  it,  and 
at  the  dead  of  night  ride  away  from  the  house." 


52  THE   RED    FAIRY    BOOK. 

Prince  Ivan  arose,  slipped  into  the  stable,  and  lay  down  be- 
hind the  mangers,  while  the  baba  yaga  was  storming  away 
at  her  mares  and  shrieking: 

"  Why  did  ye  come  back  ?  " 

"  How  could  we  help  coming  back  ?  There  came  flying  bees 
in  countless  numbers  from  all  parts  of  the  world,  and  began 
stinging  us  on  all  sides  till  the  blood  came ! " 

The  baba  yaga  went  to  sleep.  In  the  dead  of  the  night 
Prince  Ivan  stole  the  sorry  colt,  saddled  it,  jumped  on  its 
back,  and  galloped  away  to  the  fiery  river.  When  he  came 
to  the  river  he  waved  the  handkerchief  three  times  on  the 
right  hand,  and  suddenly,  springing  goodness  knows  whence, 
there  hung  across  the  river,  high  in  the  air,  a  splendid 
bridge.  The  prince  rode  across  the  bridge  and  waved  the 
handkerchief  twice  only  on  the  left  hand;  there  remained 
across  the  river  a  thin,  ever  so  thin  a  bridge! 

When  the  baba  yaga  got  up  in  the  morning  the  sorry  colt 
was  not  to  be  seen !  Off  she  set  in  pursuit.  At  full  speed  did 
she  fly  in  her  iron  mortar,  urging  it  on  with  the  pestle, 
sweeping  away  her  traces  with  the  broom.  She  dashed  up  to 
the  fiery  river,  gave  a  glance,  and  said,  "  A  capital  bridge !  " 
She  drove  on  to  the  bridge,  but  had  only  got  half-way  when 
the  bridge  broke  in  two,  and  the  baba  yaga  went  flop  into 
the  river.     There  truly  did  she  meet  with  a  cruel  death! 

Prince  Ivan  fattened  up  the  colt  in  the  green  meadows,  and 
it  turned  into  a  wondrous  steed.  Then  he  rode  to  where 
Marya  Morevna  was.  She  came  running  out,  and  flung  her- 
self on  his  neck,  crying: 

"  By  what  means  has  God  brought  you  back  to  life  ? " 

"  Thus  and  thus,"  says  he.     "  Now  come  along  with  me." 

"I  am  afraid,  Prince  Ivan!  If  Koshchei  catches  us  you 
will  be  cut  in  pieces  again." 

"No,  he  won't  catch  us!  I  have  a  splendid  heroic  steed 
now;  it  flies  just  like  a  bird."  So  they  got  on  its  back  and 
rode  away. 

Koshchei  the  Deathless  was  returning  home  when  his 
horse  stumbled  beneath  him. 

"What  art  thou  stumbling  for,  sorry  jade?  Dost  thou 
scent  any  ill  ?  " 

"Prince  Ivan  has  come  and  carried  off  Marya  Morevna." 

u  Can  we  catch  them  ? " 


THE    RED    FAIRY   BOOK. 


53 


*'  God  knows !  Prince  Ivan  has  a  horse  now  which  is  better 
than  I," 

"  Well,  I  can't  stand  it,"  says  Koshchei  the  Deathless.  "  I 
will  pursue." 

After  a  time  he  came  up  with  Prince  Ivan,  lighted  on  the 
ground,  and  was  going  to  chop  him  up  with  his  sharp  sword. 
But  at  that  moment  Prince  Ivan's  horse  smote  Koshchei  th« 
Deathless  full  swing  with  its  hoof,  and  cracked  his  skull, 


and  the  prince  made  an  end  of  him  with  a  club.  Afterward 
the  prince  heaped  up  a  pile  of  wood,  set  fire  to  it,  burned 
Koshchei  the  Deathless  on  the  pyre,  and  scattered  his  ashes 
to  the  wind.  Then  Marya  Morevna  mounted  Koshchei's 
horse  and  Prince  Ivan  got  on  his  own,  and  they  rode  away  to 
visit  first  the  raven,  and  then  the  eagle,  and  then  the  falcon. 
Wherever  they  went  they  met  with  a  joyful  greting. 

"  Ah,  Prince  Ivan !  why,  we  never  expected  to  see  you 
again.  Well,  it  wasn't  for  nothing  that  you  gave  yourself 
so  much  trouble.  Such  a  beauty  as  Marya  Morevna  one 
might  search  for  all  the  world  over — and  never  find  one  like 
her!" 

And  so  they  visited,  and  they  feasted;  and  afterward  they 
went  off  to  their  own  realm. 


54  THE   RED   FAIRY   BOOK. 


THE  BLACK  THIEF  AND  KNIGHT  OF  THE  GLEN  * 

In  times  of  yore  there  was  a  king  and  queen  in  the  south 
of  Ireland  who  had  three  sons,  all  beautiful  children ;  but  the 
queen  their  mother  sickened  unto  death  when  they  were 
yet  very  young,  which  caused  great  grief  throughout  the 
court,  particularly  to  the  king,  her  husband,  who  could  in  no 
wise  be  comforted.  Seeing  that  death  was  drawing  near  her, 
she  called  the  king  to  her  and  spoke  as  follows : 

"  I  am  now  going  to  leave  you,  and  as  you  are  young  and 
in  your  prime  of  course  after  mv  death  you  will  marry  again. 
Now  all  the  request  that  I  ask  of  you  is  that  you  will  build 
a  tower  in  an  island  in  the  sea  wherein  you  will  keep  your 
three  sons  until  they  are  come  of  age  and  fit  to  do  for  them- 
selves ;  so  that  they  may  not  be  under  the  power  or  jurisdic- 
tion of  any  other  woman.  Neglect  not  to  give  them  an  edu- 
cation suitable  to  their  birth,  and  let  them  be  trained  up  to 
every  exercise  and  pastime  requisite  for  kings'  sons  to  learn. 
This  is  all  I  have  to  say,  so  farewell." 

The  king  had  scarce  time,  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  to  assure 
her  she  should  be  obeyed  in  everything,  when  she,  turning 
herself  in  her  bed,  with  a  smile  gave  up  the  ghost.  Never  was 
greater  mourning  seen  than  was  throughout  the  court  and 
the  whole  kingdom;  for  a  better  woman  than  the  queen,  to 
rich  and  poor,  was  not  to  be  found  in  the  world.  She  was 
interred  with  great  pomp  and  magnificence,  and  the  king, 
her  husband,  became  in  a  manner  inconsolable  for  the  loss 
of  her.  However,  he  caused  the  tower  to  be  built,  and  his 
sons  placed  in  it,  under  proper  guardians,  according  to  his 
promise. 

In  process  of  time  the  lords  and  knights  of  the  kingdom 
counseled  the  king  (as  he  was  young)  to  live  no  longer  as 
he  had  done,  but  to  take  a  wife;  which  counsel  prevailing, 
they  chose  him  a  rich  and  beautiful  princess  to  be  his  consort 
— a  neighboring  king's  daughter,  of  whom  he  was  very  fond. 
Not  long  after  the  queen  had  a  fine  son,  which  caused  great 
feasting  and  rejoicing  at  the  court,  insomuch  that  the  late' 
queen,  in  a  manner,  was  entirely  forgotten.    That  fared  well, 

*  The  Hibernian  Tales. 


THE    RED    FAIRY   BOOK.  55 

and  king  and  queen  lived  happy  together  for  several  years 
At  length  the  queen  having  some  business  with  the  hen- 
wife,  went  herself  to  her,  and  after  a  long  conference  passed, 
was  taking  leave  of  her,  when  the  hen-wife  prayed  that  if 
ever  she  should  come  back  to  her  again  she  might  break  her 
neck.  The  queen,  greatly  incensed  at  such  a  daring  insult 
from  one  of  her  meanest  subjects,  demanded  immediately  the 
reason  or  she  would  have  her  put  to  death. 

"It  was  worth  your  while,  madame,"  says  the  hen-wife, 
"  to  pay  me  well  for  it,  for  the  reason  I  prayed  so  on  you  con- 
cerns you  much." 

"  What  must  I  pay  you  ?  "  asked  the  queen. 

"  You  must  give  me,"  says  she,  "  the  full  of  a  pack  of  wool, 
and  I  have  an  ancient  crock  which  you  must  fill  with  butter, 
likewise  a  barrel  which  you  must  fill  for  me  full  of  wheat." 

"  How  much  wool  will  it  take  to  the  pack  ?  "  says  the  queen. 

"  It  will  take  seven  herds  of  sheep,"  said  she,  "  and  theii 
increase  for  seven  years." 

"  How  much  butter  will  it  take  to  fill  your  crock  ?  " 

"  Seven  dairies,"  said  she,  "  and  their  increase  for  seven 
years." 

"  And  how  much  will  it  take  to  fill  the  barrel  you  have  ? " 
says  the  queen. 

"It  will  take  the  increase  of  seven  barrels  of  wheat  for 
seven  years." 

"  That  is  a  great  quantity,"  says  the  queen ;  "  but  the  rea- 
son must  be  extraordinary,  and  before  I  want  it,  I  will  give 
you  all  you  demand." 

"  Well,"  says  the  hen-wife,  "  it  is  because  you  are  so  stupid 
that  you  don't  observe  or  find  out  those  affairs  that  are  so 
dangerous  and  hurtful  to  yourself  and  your  child." 

"What  is  that?"  says  the  queen. 

"  Why,"  says  she,  "  the  king,  your  husband,  has  three  fine 
sons  he  had  by  the  late  queen,  whom  he  keeps  shut  up  in  a 
tower  until  they  come  of  age,  intending  to  divide  the  king- 
dom between  them  and  let  your  son  push  his  fortune;  now, 
if  you  don't  find  some  means  of  destroying  them,  your  child, 
and,  perhaps,  yourself,  will  be  left  desolate  in  the  end." 

"  And  what  would  you  advise  me  to  do  ?  "  said  she.  "  I  am 
wholly  at  a  loss  in  what  manner  to  act  in  this  affair." 

"You  must  make  known  to  the  king,"  says  the  hen-wife. 


56  TKE    RED    FAIRY    BOOK. 

"  that  you  heard  of  his  sons,  and  wonder  greatly  that  he  con- 
cealed them  all  this  time  from  you;  tell  him  you  wish  to  see 
them,  and  that  it  is  fuli  time  for  them  to  be  liberated,  and 
that  you  would  be  desirous  he  would  bring  them  to  the  court. 
The  king  will  then  do  so,  and  there  will  be  a  great  feast  pre- 
pared on  that  account,  and  also  diversions  of  every  sort  to 
amuse  the  people ;  and  in  these  sports,"  said  she,  "  ask  the 
king's  sons  to  play  a  game  at  cards  with  you,  which  they  will 
not  refuse.  Now,"  says  the  hen-wife,  "  you  must  make  a  bar- 
gain, that  if  you  win  they  must  do  whatever  you  command 
them,  and  if  they  win  you  must  do  whatever  they  command 
you  to  do;  this  bargain  must  be  made  before  the  assembly, 
and  here  is  a  pack  of  cards,"  says  she,  "  that  I  am  thinking 
you  will  not  lose  by." 

The  queen  immediately  took  the  cards,  and  after  returning 
the  hen-wife  thanks  for  her  kind  instruction,  went  to  the 
palace,  where  she  was  quite  uneasy  until  she  got  speaking  to 
the  king  in  regard  of  his  children;  at  last  she  broke  it  ofi  to 
him  in  a  very  polite  and  engaging  manner,  so  that  he  could 
see  no  sinister  design  in  it.  He  readily  consented  to  her 
desire,  and  his  sons  were  sent  for  to  the  tower,  who  gladly 
came  to  court,  rejoicing  that  they  were  freed  from  such  con- 
finement. They  were  all  very  handsome,  and  very  expert  in 
all  arts  and  exercises,  so  that  they  gained  the  love  and  esteem 
of  all  that  had  seen  them. 

The  queen,  more  jealous  with  them  than  ever,  thought  it 
an  age  until  all  the  feasting  and  rejoicing  was  over,  that  she 
might  get  making  her  proposal,  depending  greatly  on  the  hen- 
wife's  cards.  At  length  this  royal  assembly  began  to  sport 
and  play  at  all  kinds  of  diversions,  and  the  queen  very  cun- 
ningly challenged  the  three  princes  to  play  at  cards  with  her, 
making  bargain  with  them  as  she  had  been  instructed. 

They  accepted  the  challenge,  and  the  eldest  son  and  she 
played  the  first  game,  which  she  won;  then  the  second  son 
played  and  she  won  that  game  likewise;  the  third  son  and 
she  then  played  the  last  game,  and  he  won  it,  which  sorely 
grieved  her  that  she  had  not  him  in  her  power  as  well  as  the 
rest,  being  by  far  the  handsomest  and  most  beloved  of  the 
three. 

However,  everyone  was  anxious  to  hear  the  queen's  com- 
mands in  regard  to  the  two  princes,  not  thinking  that  she  had 


THE   BED   FAIEY   BOOK.. 


57 


any  ill  design  in  her  head  against  them.  Whether  it  was  the 
hen-wife  instructed  her,  or  whether  it  was  from  her  own 
knowledge,  I  cannot  tell ;  but  she  gave  out  that  they  must  go 
and  bring  her  the  Knight  of  the  Glen's  wild  steed  of  bells,  or 
they  should  lose  their  heads. 

The  young  princes  were  not  in  the  least  concerned,  not 
knowing  what  they  had  to  do;  but  the  whole  court  was 
amazed  at  her  demand,  knowing  very  well  that  it  was  impos- 
sible for  them  ever  to  get  the  steed,  as  all  who  ever  sought 


him  perished  in  the  attempt.  However,  they  could  not  re- 
tract the  bargain,  and  the  youngest  prince  was  desired  to  tell 
what  demand  he  had  on  the  queen,  as  he  had  won  his  game. 
"  My  brothers,"  says  he,  "  are  now  going  to  travel,  and,  as  I 
understand,  a  perilous  journey  wherein  they  know  not  what 
road  to  take  or  .?hat  may  happen  them.  I  am  resolved,  there- 
fore, not  to  stay  here,  but  to  go  with  them,  let  what  will  be- 
tide; and  I  request  and  command,  according  to  my  bar- 
gain, that  the  queen  shall  stand  on  the  highest  tower  of  the 
palace  until  we  come  back  (or  find  out  that  we  are  certainly 


58  THE   RED    FAIRY   BOOK. 

dead),  with  nothing  but  sheaf  corn  for  her  food  and  cold 
water  for  her  drink,  if  it  should  be  for  seven  years  and 
longer." 

All  things  being  now  fixed,  the  three  princes  departed  the 
court  in  search  of  the  Knight  of  the  Glen's  palace,  and  trav- 
eling along  the  road  they  came  up  with  a  man  who  was  a 
little  lame  and  seemed  to  be  somewhat  advanced  in  years; 
they  soon  fell  into  discourse,  and  the  youngest  of  the  princes 
asked  the  stranger  his  name,  or  what  was  the  reason  he  wore 
so  remarkable  a  black  cap  as  he  saw  on  him. 

"  I  am  called,"  said  he,  "  the  Thief  of  Sloan,  and  some- 
times the  Black  Thief,  from  my  cap  "  ;  and  so  telling  the 
prince  the  most  of  his  adventures,  he  asked  him  again  where 
they  were  bound  for,  or  what  they  were  about. 

The  prince,  willing  to  gratify  his  request,  told  him  their 
affairs  from  the  beginning  to  the  end.  "  And  now,"  said  he, 
"  we  are  traveling,  and  do  not  know  whether  we  are  on  the 
right  road  or  not." 

"  Ah !  my  brave  fellows,"  says  the  Black  Thief,  "  you  little 
know  the  danger  you  run.  I  am  after  that  steed  myself  these 
seven  years,  and  can  never  steal  him  on  account  of  a  silk 
covering  he  has  on  him  in  the  stable,  with  sixty  bells  fixed 
to  it,  and  whenever  you  approach  the  place  he  quickly  ob- 
serves it  and  shakes  himself;  which,  by  the  sound  of  the 
bells  not  only  alarms  the  prince  and  his  guards,  but  the  whole 
country  round,  so  that  it  is  impossible  ever  to  get  him,  and 
those  who  are  so  unfortunate  as  to  be  taken  by  the  Knight  of 
the  Glen  are  boiled  in  a  red-hot  fiery  furnace." 

"  Bless  me,"  says  the  young  prince,  "  what  will  we  do  ?  If 
we  return  without  the  steed  we  will  lose  our  heads,  so  I  see 
we  are  ill-fixed  on  both  sides." 

"  Well,"  says  the  Thief  of  Sloan,  "  if  it  were  my  case  I 
would  rather  die  by  the  knight  than  by  the  wicked  queen ;  be- 
sides, I  will  go  with  you  myself  and  show  you  the  road,  and 
whatever  fortune  you  will  have,  I  will  take  chance  of  the 
same." 

They  returned  him  sincere  thanks  for  his  kindness,  and  he, 
being  well  acquainted  with  the  road,  in  a  short  time  brought 
them  within  view  of  the  knight's  castle. 

"  Now,"  says  he,  "  we  must  stay  here  till  night  comes ;  for 
I  know  all  the  ways  of  the  place,  and  if  there  be  any  chance 


THE   RED    FAIRY   BOOK.  59 

for  it,  it  is  when  they  are  all  at  rest;  for  the  steed  is  all  the 
watch  the  knight  keeps  there." 

Accordingly,  in  the  dead  hour  of  the  night,  the  king's  three 
sons  and  the  Thief  of  Sloan  attempted  the  steed  of  bells  in 
order  to  carry  him  away,  but  before  they  could  reach  the 
stables  the  steed  neighed  most  terribly  and  shook  himself  so, 
and  the  bells  rang  with  such  noise,  that  the  knight  and  all 
his  men  were  up  in  a  moment. 

The  Black  Thief  and  the  king's  sons  thought  to  make  their 
escape,  but  they  were  suddenly  surrounded  by  the  knight's 
guards  and  taken  prisoners,  when  they  were  brought  into 
that  dismal  part  of  the  palace  where  the  knight  kept  a  fur- 
nace always  boiling,  in  which  he  threw  all  offenders  that 
came  in  his  way,  which  in  a  few  moments  would  entirely 
consume  them. 

"  Audacious  villains !  "  says  the  Knight  of  the  Glen,  "  how 
dare  you  attempt  so  bold  an  action  as  to  steal  my  steed? 
See  now,  the  reward  of  your  folly;  for  your  greater  punish- 
ment I  will  not  boil  you  all  together,  but  one  after  the  other, 
so  that  he  that  survives  may  witness  the  dire  afflictions  of  his 
unfortunate  companions." 

So  saying,  he  ordered  his  servants  to  stir  up  the  fire.  "  We 
will  boil  the  eldest-looking  of  these  young  men  first,"  said  he, 
"  and  so  on  to  the  last,  which  will  be  this  old  champion  with 
the  black  cap.  He  seems  to  be  the  captain,  and  looks  as  if 
he  had  come  through  many  toils." 

"I  was  as  near  death  once  as  the  prince  is  yet,"  says  the 
Black  Thief,  "  and  escaped ;  and  so  will  he  too." 

"  No,  you  never  were,"  said  the  knight ;  "  for  he  is  within 
two  or  three  minutes  of  his  latter  end." 

"  But,"  says  the  Black  Thief,  "  I  was  within  one  moment 
of  my  death,  and  I  am  here  yet." 

"How  was  that?"  says  the  knight;  "I  would  be  glad  to 
hear  it,  for  it  seems  impossible." 

"  If  you  think,  sir  knight,"  says  the  Black  Thief,  "  that  the 
danger  I  was  in  surpasses  that  of  this  young  man,  will  you 
pardon  him  his  crime  ?  " 

"  I  will,"  says  the  knight,  "  so  go  on  with  your  story. 

"  I  was,  sir,"  says  he,  "  a  very  wild  boy  in  my  youth,  and 
came  through  many  distresses;  once  in  particular,  as  I  was 
on  my  rambling,  I  was  benighted  and  could  find  no  lodging. 


60  THE   RED    FAIRY   BOOK. 

At  length  I  came  to  an  old  kiln,  and  being  much  fatigued  I 
went  up  and  lay  on  the  ribs.  I  had  not  been  there  long  when 
I  saw  three  witches  coming  in  with  three  bags  of  gold.  Each 
put  their  bags  of  gold  under  their  heads  as  if  to  sleep.  I 
heard  one  of  them  say  to  the  other  that  if  the  Black  Thief 
came  on  them  while  they  slept,  he  would  not  leave  them  a 
penny.  I  found  by  their  discourse  that  everybody  had  got 
my  name  into  their  mouth,  though  I  kept  silent  as  death 
during  their  discourse.  At  length  they  fell  fast  asleep,  and 
then  I  stole  softly  down,  and  seeing  some  turf  convenient,  I 
placed  one  under  each  of  their  heads,  and  off  I  went  with 
their  gold  as  fast  as  I  could. 

"  I  had  not  gone  far,"  continued  the  Thief  of  Sloan,  "  until 
I  saw  a  greyhound,  a  hare,  and  a  hawk  in  pursuit  of  me,  and 
began  to  think  it  must  be  the  witches  who  had  taken  the 
shapes  in  order  that  I  might  not  escape  them  unseen  either 
by  land  or  water.  Seeing  they  did  not  appear  in  any  for- 
midable shape,  I  was  more  than  once  resolved  to  attack  them, 
thinking  that  with  my  broadsword  I  could  easily  destroy 
them.  But  considering  again  that  it  was  perhaps  still  in 
their  power  to  become  alive  again,  I  gave  over  the  attempt, 
and  climbed  with  difficulty  up  a  tree,  bringing  my  sword  in 
my  hand  and  all  the  gold  along  with  me.  However,  when 
they  came  to  the  tree  they  found  what  I  had  done,  and  making 
further  use  of  their  hellish  art,  one  of  them  was  changed  into 
a  smith's  anvil  and  another  into  a  piece  of  iron,  of  which  the 
third  soon  made  a  hatchet.  Having  the  hatchet  made  she 
fell  to  cutting  down  the  tree,  and  in  the  course  of  an  hour 
it  began  to  shake  with  me.  At  length  it  began  to  bend,  and 
I  found  that  one  or  two  blows  at  the  most  would  put  it  down. 
I  then  began  to  think  that  my  death  was  inevitable,  consid- 
ering that  those  who  were  capable  of  doing  so  much  would 
soon  end  my  life;  but  just  as  she  had  the  stroke  drawn  that 
would  terminate  my  fate,  the  cock  crew,  and  the  witches  dis- 
appeared, having  resumed  their  natural  shapes  for  fear  of 
being  known,  and  I  got  safe  off  with  my  bags  of  gold. 

"Now,  sir,"  says  he  to  the  Knight  of  the  Glen,  "  if  that  be 
not  as  great  an  adventure  as  you  ever  heard,  to  be  within 
one  blow  of  a  hatchet  of  my  end,  and  that  blow  even  drawn, 
and  after  all  to  escape,  I  leave  it  to  yourself." 

"  Well,  I  cannot  say  but  it  is  very  extraordinary,"  says  the 


THE   RED    FAIRY   BOOK. 


61 


Knight  of  the  Glen,  "  and  on  that  account  pardon  this  young 
man  of  his  crime;  so  stir  up  the  fire  till  I  boil  this  second 
one.'" 

"Indeed,"  says  the  Black  Thief,  "I  would  fain  think  he 
would  not  die  this  time  either." 

"  How  so  ? "  said  the  knight ;  "  it  is  impossible  for  him  to 
escape." 

"  I  escaped  death  more  wonderfully  myself,"  says  the 
Thief  of  Sloan,  "  than  if  you  had  him  ready  to  throw  into  the 
furnace,  and  I  hope  it  will  be  the  case  with  him  likewise." 


"  Why,  have  you  been  in  another  great  danger  ? "  says  the 
knight.  "  I  would  be  glad  to  hear  the  story,  too,  and  if  it  be 
as  wonderful  as  the  last,  I  will  pardon  this  young  man  as 
I  did  the  other." 

"My  way  of  living,  sir,"  says  the  Black  Thief,  "was  not 
good,  as  I  told  you  before;  and  being  at  a  certain  time  fairly 
run  out  of  cash,  and  meeting  with  no  enterprise  worthy  of  no- 
tice, I  was  reduced  to  great  straits.  At  length  a  rich  bishop 
died  in  the  neighborhood  I  was  then  in,  and  I  heard  he  was 
interred  with  a  great  deal  of  jewels  and  rich  robes  upon  him, 
all  which  I  intended  in  a  short  time  to  be  master  of.  Ac- 
cordingly that  very  night  I  set  about  it,  and  coming  to  the 
place,  I  understood  he  was  placed  at  the  further  end  of  a  long, 


62  THE   BED    FAIRY   BOOK. 

dark  vault,  which  I  slowly  entered.  I  had  not  gone  in  far 
until  I  heard  a  foot  coming  toward  me  with  a  quick  pace,  and 
although  naturally  bold  and  daring,  yet,  thinking  of  the  de- 
ceased bishop  and  the  crime  I  was  engaged  in,  I  lost  courage 
and  ran  toward  the  entrance  of  the  vault.  I  had  retreated 
but  a  few  paces  when  I  observed  between  me  and  the  light 
the  figure  of  a  tall  black  man  standing  in  the  entrance.  Be- 
ing in  great  fear,  and  not  knowing  how  to  pass,  I  fired  a  pis- 
tol at  him  and  he  immediately  fell  across  the  entrance.  Per- 
ceiving he  still  retained  the  figure  of  a  mortal  man,  I  began 
to  imagine  that  it  could  not  be  the  bishop's  ghost ;  recovering 
myself  therefore  from  the  fear  I  was  in,  I  ventured  to  the 
upper  end  of  the  vault,  where  I  found  a  large  bundle,  and 
upon  further  examination  found  that  the  corpse  was  already 
rifled,  and  that  which  I  had  taken  to  be  a  ghost  was  no  more 
than  one  of  his  own  clergy.  I  was  then  very  sorry  that  I  had 
the  misfortune  to  kill  him,  but  then  it  could  not  be  helped. 
I  took  up  the  bundle  that  contained  everything  belonging  to 
the  corpse  that  was  valuable,  intending  to  take  my  departure 
from  this  melancholy  abode;  but  just  as  I  came  to  the 
mouth  of  the  entrance  I  saw  the  guards  of  the  place  coming 
toward  me,  and  distinctly  heard  them  saying  they  would  look 
in  the  vault,  for  that  the  Black  Thief  would  think  little  of 
robbing  the  corpse  if  he  was  anywhere  in  the  place.  I  did  not 
then  know  in  what  manner  to  act,  for  if  I  was  seen  I  would 
surely  lose  my  life,  as  everybody  had  a  lookout  at  that  time, 
and  because  there  was  no  person  bold  enough  to  come  in  on 
me,  I  knew  very  well  that  on  the  first  sight  of  me  that  could 
be  got,  I  would  be  shot  like  a  dog.  However,  I  had  no  time 
to  lose.  I  took  and  raised  up  the  man  which  I  had  killed,  as 
if  he  was  standing  on  his  feet,  and  I,  crouching  behind  him, 
bore  him  up  as  well  as  I  could,  so  that  the  guards  readily 
saw  him  as  they  came  up  to  the  vault.  Seeing  the  man  in 
black,  one  of  the  men  cried  that  was  the  Black  Thief,  and, 
presenting  his  piece,  fired  at  the  man,  at  which  I  let  him 
fall,  and  crept  into  a  little  dark  corner  myself,  that  was  at 
the  entrance  of  the  place.  When  they  saw  the  man  fall,  they 
ran  all  into  the  vault,  and  never  stopped  until  they  were  at 
the  end  of  it,  for  fear,  as  I  thought,  that  there  might  be 
some  others  along  with  him  that  was  killed.  But  while  they 
were  busy  inspecting  the  corpse  and  the  vault  to  see  what  they 


THE    RED    FAIRY    BOOK.  63 

could  miss,  I  slipped  out,  and,  once  away,  and  still  away ;  but 
they  never  had  the  Black  Thief  in  their  power  since." 

"  Well,  my  brave  fellow,"  says  the  Knight  of  the  Glen,  "  I 
see  you  have  come  through  many  dangers:  you  have  freed 
these  two  princes  by  your  stories ;  but  I  am  sorry  myself  that 
this  young  prince  has  to  suffer  for  all.  Now,  if  you  could 
tell  me  something  as  wonderful  as  you  have  told  already,  I 
would  pardon  him  likewise;  I  pity  this  youth  and  do  not 
want  to  put  him  to  death  if  I  could  help  it." 

"  That  happens  well,"  says  the  Thief  of  Sloan,  "  for  I  like 
him  best  myself,  and  have  reserved  the  most  curious  passage 
for  the  last  on  his  account." 

"  Well,  then,"  says  the  knight,  "  let  us  hear  it." 

"  I  was  one  day  on  my  travels,"  says  the  Black  Thief,  "  arid 
I  came  into  a  large  forest,  where  I  wandered  a  long  time  and 
could  not  get  out  of  it.  At  last  I  came  to  a  large  castle,  and 
fatigue  obliged  me  to  call  in  the  same,  where  I  found  a  young 
woman  and  a  child  sitting  on  her  knee,  and  she  crying. 
I  asked  her  what  made  her  cry,  and  where  the  lord  of  the 
castle  was,  for  I  wondered  greatly  that  I  saw  no  stir  of  serv- 
ants or  any  person  about  the  place. 

"  '  It  is  well  for  you,'  says  the  young  woman,  '  that  the  lord 
of  this  castle  is  not  at  home  at  present ;  for  he  is  a  monstrous 
giant  with  but  one  eye  in  his  forehead,  who  lives  on  human 
flesh.  He  brought  me  this  child,'  says  she,  'I  do  not  know 
where  he  got  it,  and  ordered  me  to  make  it  into  a  pie,  and  I 
cannot  help  crying  at  the  command.' 

"  I  told  her  that  if  she  knew  of  any  place  convenient  that 
I  could  leave  the  child  safely  I  would  do  it,  rather  than  it 
should  be  killed  by  such  a  monster. 

"  She  told  me  of  a  house  a  distance  off  where  I  would  get  a 
woman  who  would  take  care  of  it.  '  But  what  will  I  do  in 
regard  of  the  pie  ? ' 

" '  Cut  a  finger  off  it,'  said  I,  '  and  I  will  bring  you  in  a 
young  wild  pig  out  of  the  forest,  which  you  may  dress  as  if 
it  was  the  child,  and  put  the  finger  in  a  certain  place,  that 
if  the  giant  doubts  anything  about  it  you  may  know  where 
to  turn  it  over  at  the  first,  and  when  he  sees  it  he  will  be 
fully  satisfied  that  the  pie  is  made  of  the  child.' 

"  She  agreed  to  the  scheme  I  proposed,  and  cutting  off  the 
child's  finger,  by  her  direction  I  soon  had  it  at  the  house  ah© 


0*k 


KED    FAIRY    EGOK. 


told  me  of,  and  brought  her  the  little  pig  in  the  place  of  it. 
She  then  made  ready  the  pie,  and  after  eating  and  drinking 
heartily  myself,  I  was  just  taking  my  leave  of  the  young 
woman  when  we  observed  the  giant  coming  through  the 
castle  gates. 

"  '  Bless  me,'  said  sher  '  what  will  you  do  now  ?  Run  away 
and  lie  down  among  the  dead  bodies  that  he  has  in  the  room 
[showing  me  the  place],  and  strip  off  your  clothes,  that  he 
may  not  know  you  fron>  the  rest  if  he  has  occasion  to  go 
that  way.' 

"  I  took  her  advice  and  ^aid  myself  down  among  the  rest, 


js  if  dead,  to  see  how  he  would  behave.  The  first  thing  1 
heard  was  him  calling  for  his  pie.  When  she  set  it  down 
before  him  he  swore  it  smelled  like  swine's  flesh,  but  know- 
ing where  to  find  the  finger  she  immediately  turned  it  up, 
which  fairly  convinced  him  to  the  contrary.  The  pie  only 
Served  to  sharpen  his  appetite,  and  I  heard  hina.  sJwus*** 


THE    RED    FAIRY   BOOK.  65 

ing  his  knife  and  saying  he  must  have  a  collop  or  two,  for  he 
was  hot  near  satisfied.  But  what  was  my  terror  when  I  heard 
the  giant  groping  among  the  bodies,  and,  fancying  myself, 
cut  the  half  of  my  hip  off  and  took  it  with  him  to  be  roasted. 
You  may  be  certain  I  was  in  great  pain,  but  the  fear  of  be- 
ing killed  prevented  me  from  making  any  complaint.  How- 
ever, when  he  had  eaten  all  he  began  to  drink  hot  liquors 
in  great  abundance  so  that  in  a  short  time  he  could  not  hold 
up  his  head,  but  threw  himself  on  a  large  creel  he  had  made 
for  the  purpose,  and  fell  fast  asleep.  When  I  heard  him 
snoring,  as  I  was  I  went  up  and  caused  the  woman  to  bind 
my  wound  with  a  handkerchief;  and  taking  the  giant's  spit, 
reddened  it  in  the  fire  and  ran  it  through  the  eye,  but  was 
not  able  to  kill  him. 

"However,  I  left  the  spit  sticking  in  his  head,  ana  zws. 
to  my  heels ;  but  I  soon  found  that  he  was  in  pursuit  of  me, 
although  blind;  and  having  an  enchanted  ring,  he  threw  it 
at  me,  and  it  fell  on  my  big  toe  and  remained  fastened  to  it. 

"  The  giant  then  called  to  the  ring,  where  it  was,  and  to 
my  great  surprise  it  made  him  answer  on  my  foot;  and  he, 
guided  by  the  same,  made  a  leap  at  me  which  I  had  the  good 
luck  to  observe,  and  fortunately  escaped  the  danger.  How- 
ever, I  found  running  was  of  no  use  in  saving  me  as  long  as 
I  had  the  ring  on  my  foot;  so  I  took  my  sword  and  cut  off 
the  toe  it  was  fastened  on,  and  threw  both  into  a  large  fish- 
pond that  was  convenient.  The  giant  called  again  to  the 
ring,  which  by  the  power  of  enchantment  always  made  him 
ztnswer;  but  he,  not  knowing  what  I  had  done,  imagined  it 
♦vas  still  on  some  part  of  me,  and  made  a  violent  leap  to 
seize  me,  when  he  went  into  the  pond,  over  head  and  ears, 
and  was  drowned.  Now,  sir  knight,"  says  the  Thief  of  Sloan, 
',l  you  see  what  dangers  I  came  through  and  always  escaped ; 
but,  indeed,  I  am  lame  for  the  want  of  my  toe  ever  since." 

"  My  lord  and  master,"  says  an  old  woman  that  was  listen- 
ing all  the  time,  "  that  story  is  but  too  true,  as  I  well  know, 
for  I  am  the  very  woman  that  was  in  the  giant's  castle, 
and  you,  my  lord,  the  child  that  I  was  to  make  into  a  pie; 
and  this  is  the  very  man  that  saved  your  life,  which  you  may 
know  by  the  want  of  the  finger  that  was  taken  off,  as  you 
have  heard,  to  deceive  the  giant." 

The  Knight  of  the  Glen,  greatly  surprised  at  what  he  had 


66  THE   RED    FAIRY   BOOK. 

heard  the  old  woman  tell,  and  knowing  he  wanted  his  finger 
from  his  childhood,  began  to  understand  that  the  story  was 
true  enough. 

"  And  this  is  my  deliverer  ?  "  says  he.  "  Oh,  brave  fellow, 
I  not  only  pardon  you  all,  but  will  keep  you  with  myself  while 
you  live,  where  you  shall  feast  like  princes,  and  have  every 
attendance  that  I  have  myself." 

They  all  returned  thanks  on  their  knees,  and  the  Black 
Thief  told  him  the  reason  they  attempted  to  steal  the  steed 
of  bells,  and  the  necessity  they  were  under  in  going  home. 

"  Well,"  says  the  Knight  of  the  Glen,  "  if  that  is  the  case 
I  bestow  you  my  steed  rather  than  this  brave  fellow  should 
die;  so  you  may  go  when  you  please,  only  remember  to  call 
and  see  me  betimes,  that  we  may  know  each  other  well." 

They  promised  they  would,  and  with  great  joy  they  set  off 
for  the  king  their  father's  palace,  and  the  Black  Thief  along 
with  them. 

The  wicked  queen  was  standing  all  this  time  on  the  tower, 
and  hearing  the  bells  ringing  at  a  great  distance  off  knew 
very  well  it  was  the  princes  coming  home,  and  the  steed  with 
them,  and  through  spite  and  vexation  precipitated  herself 
from  the  tower  and  was  shattered  to  pieces. 

The  three  princes  lived  happily  and  well  during  their 
father's  reign,  and  always  keeping  the  Black  Thief  along 
with  them;  but  how  they  did  after  the  old  king's  death  is 
not  known. 


THE  MASTEK-THIEF* 

There  was  once  upon  a  time  a  husbandman  who  had  three 
sons.  He  had  no  property  to  bequeath  to  them,  and  no  means 
of  putting  them  in  the  way  of  getting  a  living,  and  he  did 
not  know  what  to  do,  so  he  said  they  had  his  leave  to  take 
anything  they  most  fancied,  and  go  to  any  place  they  liked 
best.  He  would  gladly  accompany  them  for  some  part  of 
their  way,  he  said,  and  that  he  did.  He  went  with  them  till 
they  came  to  a  place  where  three  roads  met,  and  there  each 
of  them  took  his  own  way,  and  the  father  bade  them  farewell 
and  returned  to  his  own  home  again.  What  became  of  the 
*  From  P.  C.  Asbjornsen. 


THE   RED    FAIRY   BOOK.  67 

two  elder  I  have  never  been  able  to  discover,  but  the  youngest 
went  both  far  and  wide. 

It  came  to  pass  one  night  as  he  was  going  through  a  great 
wood  that  a  terrible  storm  came  on.  It  blew  so  hard  and 
rained  so  heavily  that  he  could  scarcely  keep  his  eyes  open, 
and  before  he  was  aware  of  it  he  had  got  quite  out  of  the 
track,  and  could  find  neither  road  nor  path.  But  he  went  on, 
and  at  last  he  saw  a  light  far  away  in  the  wood.  Then  he 
thought  he  must  try  and  get  to  it,  and  after  a  long,  long  time 
he  did  reach  it.  There  was  a  large  house,  and  the  fire  was 
burning  so  brightly  inside  that  he  could  tell  that  the  people 
were  not  in  bed.  So  he  went  in,  and  inside  there  was  an  old 
woman  who  was  busy  about  some  work. 

"  Good-evening,  mother !  "  said  the  youth. 

"  Good-evening !  "  said  the  old  woman. 

"  Hutetu !  it  is  terrible  weather  outside  to-night,"  said  the 
young  fellow. 

"  Indeed,  it  is,"  said  the  old  woman. 

"  Can  I  sleep  here,  and  have  shelter  for  the  night  ? "  asked 
the  youth. 

"  It  wouldn't  be  good  for  you  to  sleep  here,"  said  the  old 
hag,  "  for  if  the  people  of  the  house  come  home  and  find  you, 
they  will  kill  both  you  and  me." 

"  What  kind  of  people  are  they,  then,  who  dwell  here  ? " 
said  the  youth. 

"  Oh !  robbers,  and  rabble  of  that  sort,"  said  the  old  woman ; 
"  they  stole  me  away  when  I  was  little  and  I  have  had  to  keep 
house  for  them  ever  since." 

"  I  still  think  I  will  go  to  bed,  all  the  same,"  said  the  youth. 
"No  matter  what  happens,  I'll  not  go  out  to-night  in  such 
weather  as  this." 

"Well,  then,  it  will  be  the  worse  for  yourself,"  said  the 
old  woman. 

The  young  man  lay  down  in  a  bed  which  stood  near,  but  he 
dared  not  go  to  sleep;  and  it  was  better  that  he  didn't,  for 
the  robbers  came,  and  the  old  woman  said  that  a  young  fellow 
who  was  a  stranger  had  come  there,  and  she  had  not  been 
able  to  get  him  to  go  away    again. 

"  Did  you  see  if  he  had  any  money  ? "  said  the  robbers. 

"  He's  not  one  to  have  money,  he  is  a  tramp !  If  he  has 
a  few  clothes  to  his  back,  that  is  all." 


68  THE   RED    FAIRY    BOOK. 

Then  the  robbers  began  to  mutter  to  each  other  apart  about 
what  they  should  do  with  him;  whether  they  should  murder 
him,  or  what  else  they  should  do.  In  the  meantime  the  boy 
got  up  and  began  to  talk  to  them,  and  ask  them  if  they  did 
not  want  a  man-servant,  for  he  could  find  pleasure  enough 
in  serving  them. 

"  Yes,"  said  they,  "  if  you  have  a  mind  to  take  to  the  trade 
that  we  follow,  you  may  have  a  place  here." 

"  It's  all  the  same  to  me  what  trade  I  follow,"  said  the 
youth,  "  for  when  I  came  away  from  home  my  father  gave 
me  leave  to  take  any  trade  I  fancied." 

"  Have  you  a  fancy  for  stealing,  then  ? "  said  the  rob- 
bers. 

"  Yes,"  said  the  boy,  for  he  thought  that  was  a  trade  which 
would  not  take  long  to  learn. 

Not  very  far  off  there  dwelt  a  man  who  had  three  oxen,  one 
of  which  he  was  to  take  to  the  town  to  sell.  The  robbers  had 
heard  of  this,  so  they  told  the  youth  that  if  he  were  able  to 
steal  the  ox  from  him  on  the  way,  without  his  knowing,  and 
without  doing  him  any  harm,  he  should  have  leave  to  be  their 
servant-man.  So  the  youth  set  off,  taking  with  him  a  pretty 
shoe  with  a  silver  buckle  that  was  lying  about  the  house.  He 
put  this  in  the  road  by  which  the  man  must  go  with  his  ox, 
and  then  went  into  the  wood  and  hid  himself  under  a  bush. 
When  the  man  came  up  he  at  once  saw  the  shoe. 

"  That's  a  brave  shoe,"  said  he~  "Tf  I  had  but  the  fellow 
to  it  I  would  carry  it  home  with  me,  and  then  I  should  put 
my  old  woman  into  a  good  humor  for  once." 

For  he  had  a  wife  who  was  so  cross  and  ill-tempered  that 
the  time  between  the  beatings  she  gave  him  was  very  short. 
But  then  he  bethought  himself  he  could  do  nothing  with 
one  shoe  if  he  had  not  the  fellow  to  it,  so  he  journeyed  on- 
ward and  let  it  lie  where  it  was.  Then  the  youth  picked 
up  the  shoe  and  hurried  off  away  through  the  wood  as  fast 
as  he  was  able,  to  get  in  front  of  the  man,  and  then  put  the 
shoe  in  the  road  before  him  again. 

When  the  man  came  with  the  ox  and  saw  the  shoe,  he  was 
quite  vexed  at  having  been  so  stupid  as  to  leave  the  fellow  to 
it  lying  where  it  was,  instead  of  bringing  it  on  with  him. 

"  I  will  just  run  back  and  fetch  it  now,"  he  said  to  himself, 
u  and  then  I  shall  take  back  a  pair  of  good  shoes  to  the  old 


THE   RED    FAIRY   BOOK. 


69 


woman,  and  she  may  perhaps  throw  a  kind  word  to  me  for 
once." 

So  he  went  and  searched  for  the  other  shoe  for  a  long, 
long  time,  but  no  shoe  was  to  be  found,  and  at  last  he  was 
forced  to  go  back  with  the  one  which  he  had. 

In  the  meantime  the  youth  had  taken  the  ox  and  gone  off 
with  it.  When  the  man  got  there  and  found  that  his  ox 
was  gone  he  began  to  weep  and  wail,  for  he  was  afraid  that 


when  his  old  woman  got  to  know  she  would  be  the  death  of 
him.  But  all  at  once  it  came  into  his  head  to'go  home  and 
get  the  other  ox  and  drive  it  to  the  town,  and  take  good  care 
that  his  old  wife  knew  nothing  about  it.  So  he  did  this; 
he  went  home  and  took  the  ox  without  his  wife's  knowing 
about  it,  and  went  on  his  way  to  the  town  with  it.    But  the 


70  THE   RED    FAIRY    BOOK. 

robbers,  they  knew  it  well,  because  they  got  out  their  magic. 
So  they  told  the  youth  that  if  he  could  take  this  ox  also 
without  the  man  knowing  anything  about  it,  and  without 
doing  him  any  hurt,  he  should  then  be  on  an  equality  with 
them. 

"  Well,  that  will  not  be  a  very  hard  thing  to  do,"  thought 
the  youth. 

This  time  he  took  with  him  a  rope  and  put  it  under  his 
arms  and  tied  himself  up  to  a  tree  which  hung  over  the  road 
that  the  man  would  have  to  take.  So  the  man  came  with  his 
ox,  and  when  he  saw  the  body  hanging  there  he  felt  a  little 
queer. 

"  What  a  hard  lot  yours  must  have  been  to  make  you  hang 
yourself !  "  said  he.  "  Ah,  well !  you  may  hang  there  for  me ; 
I  can't  breathe  life  into  you  again." 

So  he  went  on  with  his  ox.  Then  the  youth  sprang  down 
from  the  tree,  ran  by  a  short  cut  and  got  before  him,  and 
once  more  hung  himself  up  on  a  tree  in  the  road  before  the 
man. 

"  How  I  should  like  to  know  if  you  really  were  so  sick  at 
heart  that  you  hanged  yourself  there,  or  if  it  is  only  a  hob- 
goblin that's  before  me !  "  said  the  man.  "  Ah,  well !  you  may 
hang  there  for  me,  whether  you  are  a  hobgoblin  or  not,"  and 
on  he  went  with  his  ox. 

Once  more  the  youth  did  just  as  he  had  done  twice  already ; 
jumped  down  from  the  tree,  ran  by  a  short  cut  through  the 
wood,  and  again  hanged  himself  in  the  very  middle  of  the 
road  before  him.  But  when  the  man  once  more  saw  this 
he  said  to  himself,  "  What  a  bad  business  this  is !  Can  they 
all  have  been  so  heavy-hearted  that  they  have  all  three  hanged 
themselves?  No,  I  can't  believe  it  is  anything  but  witch- 
craft !  But  I  will  know  the  truth,"  he  said ;  "  if  the  two 
others  are  still  hanging  there  it  is  true,  but  if  they  are  not 
it's  nothing  else  but  witchcraft." 

So  he  tied  up  his  ox  and  ran  back  to  see  if  they  really  were 
hanging  there.  While  he  was  going,  and  looking  up  at  every 
tree  as  he  went,  the  youth  leaped  down  and  tcok  his  ox  and 
went  off  with  it.  Anyone  may  easily  imagine  the  fury  the 
man  fell  into  when  he  came  back  and  saw  that  his  ox  was 
gone.  He  wept  and  he  raged,  but  at  last  he  took  comfort' 
and  told  himself  that  the  best  thing  to  do  was  to  go  home  and 


THE    RED    FAIRY   BOOK.  71 

take  the  third  ox  without  letting  his  wife  know  anything 
about  it,  and  then  to  try  to  sell  it  so  well  as  to  get  a  good 
sum  of  money  for  it.  So  he  went  home  and  took  the  third 
ox  and  drove  it  off  without  his  wife  knowing  anything  about 
it.  But  the  robbers  knew  all  about  it  and  they  told  the  youth 
if  he  could  steal  this  as  he  had  stolen  the  two  others  he  should 
be  master  of  the  whole  troop.  So  the  youth  set  out  and  went 
to  the  wood  and  when  the  man  was  coming  along  with  the  ox 
he  began  to  bellow  loudly,  just  like  a  great  ox  somewhere  in- 
side the  wood.  When  the  man  heard  that  he  was  right  glad, 
for  he  fancied  he  recognized  the  voice  of  his  big  bullock,  and 
thought  that  now  he  should  find  both  of  them  again.  So  he 
tied  up  the  third  and  ran  away  off  the  road  to  look  for  them 
in  the  wood.  In  the  meantime  the  youth  went  away  with 
the  third  ox.  When  the  man  returned  and  found  that  he  had 
lost  that,  too,  he  fell  into  such  a  rage  that  there  were  no 
bounds  to  it.  He  wept  and  lamented,  and  for  many  days  he 
did  not  dare  to  go  home  again,  for  he  was  afraid  that  the 
old  woman  would  slay  him  outright.  The  robbers,  also,  were 
not  very  well  pleased  at  this,  for  they  were  forced  to  own 
that  the  youth  was  at  the  head  of  them  all.  So  one  day 
they  made  up  their  minds  to  set  to  work  to  do  something 
which  it  was  not  in  his  power  to  accomplish,  and  they  all 
took  to  the  road  together  and  left  him  at  home  alone.  When 
they  were  well  out  of  the  house  the  first  thing  that  he  did 
was  to  drive  the  oxen  out  on  the  road,  whereupon  they  all  ran 
home  again  to  the  man  from  whom  he  had  stolen  them,  and 
right  glad  was  the  husbandman  to  see  them.  Then  he  brought 
out  all  the  horses  the  robbers  had  and  loaded  them  with  the 
most  valuable  things  he  could  find — vessels  of  gold  and  of 
silver,  and  clothes  and  other  magnificent  things — and  then 
he  told  the  old  woman  to  greet  the  robbers  from  him  and 
thank  them  from  him,  and  say  that  he  had  gone  away,  and 
that  they  would  have  a  great  deal  of  difficulty  in  finding  him 
again,  and  with  that  he  drove  the  horses  out  of  the  court- 
yard. After  a  long,  long  time  he  came  to  the  road  upon 
which  he  was  traveling  when  he  came  to  the  robbers.  And 
when  he  had  got  very  near  home  and  was  in  sight  of  the 
house  where  his  father  lived,  he  put  on  a  uniform  which  he 
had  found  among  the  things  taken  from  the  robbers,  which 
was  made  just  like  a  general's,  and  drove  into  the  yard  just 


72  THE    KED    FAIRY    BOOK. 

as  if  he  were  a  great  man.     Then  he  entered  the  house  and 
asked  if  he  could  find  a  lodging  there. 

"  No,  indeed  you  can't !  "  said  his  father.  "  How  could  I 
possibly  be  able  to  lodge  such  a  great  gentleman  as  you '{  It 
is  all  that  I  can  do  to  find  clothes  and  bedding  for  myseii, 
and  wretched  they  are." 

"  You  were  always  a  hard  man,"  said  the  youth,  "  and  hard 
you  are  still  if  you  refuse  to  let  your  own  son  come  into 
your  house." 

"  Are  you  my  son  ?  "  said  the  man. 

"  Do  you  not  know  me  again,  then  ? "  said  the  youth. 

Then  he  recognized  him  and  said,  "But  what  trade  have 
you  taken  to  that  has  made  you  such  a  great  man  in  so  short 
a  time  ? " 

"  Oh,  that  I  will  tell  you,"  answered  the  youth.  "  You  said 
that  I  might  take  to  anything  I  liked,  so  I  apprenticed  my- 
self to  some  thieves  and  robbers,  and  now  I  have  served  my 
time  and  become  master-thief." 

Now  the  governor  of  the  province  lived  by  his  father's 
cottage,  and  this  governor  had  such  a  large  house  and  so 
much  money  that  he  did  not  even  know  how  much  it  was,  and 
he  had  a  daughter,  too,  who  was  both  pretty  and  dainty,  and 
good  and  wise.  So  the  master-thief  was  determined  to  have 
her  to  wife,  and  told  his  father  to  go  to  the  governor 
and  ask  for  his  daughter  for  him.  "  If  he  asks  what  trade  I 
follow,  you  may  say  that  I  am  a  master-thief,"  said  he. 

"  I  think  you  must  be  crazy,"  said  the  man,  "  for  you  can't 
be  in  your  senses  if  you  think  of  anything  so  foolish." 

"  You  must  go  to  the  governor  and  beg  for  his  daughter — 
there  is  no  help,"  said  the  youth. 

"  But  I  dare  not  go  to  the  governor  and  say  this.  He  is  so 
rich  and  has  so  much  wealth  of  all  kinds,"  said  the  man. 

"  There  is  no  help  for  it,"  said  the  master-thief ;  "  go  you 
must,  whether  you  like  it  or  not.  If  I  can't  get  you  to  go  b;\ 
using  good  words,  I  will  soon  make  you  go  with  bad  ones." 

But  the  man  was  still  unwilling,  so  the  master-thief  fol- 
lowed him,  threatening  him  with  a  great  birch  stick,  till  he 
went  weeping  and  wailing  through  the  door  to  the  governoi 
of  the  province. 

"  Now,  my  man,  and  what's  amiss  with  you  ? "  said  the 
governor 


THE   RED   FAIRY   BOOK.  73 

So  he  told  him  that  he  had  three  sons  who  had  gone  away- 
one  day,  and  how  he  had  given  them  permission  to  go  where 
they  chose,  and  take  to  whatsoever  work  they  fancied. 
"  Now,"  he  said,  "  the  youngest  of  them  has  come  home,  and 
has  threatened  me  till  I  have  come  to  you  to  ask  your  daugh- 
ter for  him,  and  I  am  to  say  that  he  is  a  master-thief,"  and 
again  the  man  fell  a-weeping  and  lamenting. 

"  Console  yourself,  my  man,"  said  the  governor,  laughing. 
"  You  may  tell  him  from  me  that  he  must  first  give  me  some 
proof  of  this.  If  he  can  steal  the  joint  off  the  spit  in  the 
kitchen  on  Sunday,  when  every  one  of  us  is  watching  it, 
he  shall  have  my  daughter.    Will  you  tell  him  that  ?  " 

The  man  did  tell  him,  and  the  youth  thought  it  would 
be  easy  enough  to  do  it.  So  he  set  himself  to  work  to  catch 
three  hares  alive,  put  them  in  a  bag,  clad  himself  in  some 
old  rags  so  that  he  looked  so  poor  and  wretched  that  it  was 
quite  pitiable  to  see  him,  and  in  this  guise  on  Sunday  fore- 
noon he  sneaked  into  the  passage  with  his  bag,  like  any 
beggar  boy.  The  governor  himself  and  everyone  in  the 
house,  was  in  the  kitchen,  keeping  watch  over  the  joint. 
While  they  were  doing  this  the  youth  let  one  of  the  hares 
slip  out  of  his  bag,  and  off  it  set  and  began  to  run  around 
the  yard. 

"  Just  look  at  that  hare,"  said  the  people  in  the  kitchen, 
and  wanted  to  go  out  and  catch  it. 

The  governor  saw  it,  too,  but  said,  "  Oh,  let  it  go !  it's  no 
use  to  think  of  catching  a  hare  when  it's  running  away." 

It  was  not  long  before  the  youth  let  another  hare  out,  and 
the  people  in  the  kitchen  saw  this,  too,  and  thought  that  it 
was  the  same.  So  again  they  wanted  to  go  out  and  catch 
it,  but  the  governor  told  them  that  it  was  of  no  use  to  try. 

Very  soon  afterward,  however,  the  youth  let  slip  the  third 
hare,  and  it  set  off  and  ran  round  and  round  the  court-yard. 
The  people  in  the  kitchen  saw  this,  too,  and  believed  that  it 
was  still  the  same  hare  that  was  running  about,  so  they 
wanted  to  go  out  and  catch  it. 

"  It's  a  remarkably  fine  hare !  "  said  the  governor.  "  Come 
and  let  us  see  if  we  can  get  hold  of  it."  So  out  he  went,  and 
the  others  with  him,  and  away  went  the  hare,  and  they  after 
it,  in  real  earnest. 

In  the  meantime,  however,  the  master-thief  took  the  joint 


u 


THE    RED    FAIRY    BOOK. 


And  ran  off  with  it,  and  whether  the  governor  got  any  roast 
meat  for  his  dinner  that  day  I  know  not,  but  I  know  that  he 
had  no  roast  hare,  though  he  chased  it  till  he  was  both 
Jiot  and  tired. 

At  noon  came  the  priest,  and  when  the  governor  had  told 
"him  of  the  trick  played  by  the  master-thief,  there  was  no 
•end  to  the  ridicule  he  cast  on  the  governor. 

"  For  my  part,"  said  the  priest,  "  I  can't  imagine  myself 
>being  made  a  fool  of  by  such  a  fellow  as  -that !  " 

"  Well,  I  advise  you  to  be  careful,"  said  the  governor, 
*"  for  he.  may  be  with  you  before  you  are  at  all  aware." 

But  the  priest  repeated  what  he  had  said,  and  mocked 


i:he  governor  for  having  allowed  himself  to  be  made  such  a 
iool  of. 

Later  in  the  afternoon  the  master-thief  came  and  wanted 
to  have  the  governor's  daughter  as  he  had  promised. 

"You  must  first  give  some  more  samples  of  your  skill," 
said  the  governor,  trying  to  speak  him  fair,  "  for  what  you 
did  to-day  was  no  such  very  great  thing  after  all.  Couldn't 
you  play  off  a  really  good  trick  on  the  priest?  for  he  is  sit- 


THE   RED    FAIRY   BOOK.  75 

ting  inside  there  and  calling  me  a  fool  for  having  let  myself 
be  taken  in  by  such  a  fellow  as  you." 

"  Well,  it  wouldn't  be  very  hard  to  do  that,"  said  the  mas- 
ter-thief. So  he  dressed  himself  up  like  a  bird,  and  threw 
a  great  white  sheet  over  himself;  broke  off  a  goose's  wings, 
and  set  them  on  his  back;  and  in  this  attire  climbed  into  a 
great  maple  tree  which  stood  in  the  priest's  garden.  So 
when  the  priest  returned  home  in  the  evening  the  youth 
began  to  cry,  "  Father  Lawrence !  Father  Lawrence !  "  for 
the  priest  was  called  Father  Lawrence. 

"  Who  is  calling  me  ? "  said  the  priest. 

"  I  am  an  angel  sent  to  announce  to  thee  that  because  of 
thy  piety  thou  shalt  be  taken  away  alive  into  heaven,"  said 
the  master-thief.  "  Wilt  thou  hold  thyself  in  readiness  to 
travel  away  next  Monday  night?  for  then  will  I  come  and 
fetch  thee,  and  bear  thee  away  with  me  in  a  sack,  and  thou 
must  lay  all  thy  gold  and  silver,  and  whatsoever  thou  may'st 
possess  of  this  world's  wealth,  in  a  heap  in  thy  best  parlor." 

So  Father  Lawrence  fell  down  on  his  knees  before  the  an* 
gel  and  thanked  him,  and  on  the  following  Sunday  he 
preached  a  farewell  sermon,  and  gave  out  that  an  angel 
had  come  down  into  the  large  maple  tree  in  his  garden,  and 
had  announced  to  him  that  because  of  his  righteousness,  he 
should  be  taken  up  alive  into  heaven,  and  as  he  thus 
preached  and  told  them  this,  everyone  in  the  church,  old  or 
young,  wept. 

On  Monday  night  the  master-thief  once  more  came  as  an 
angel,  and  before  the  priest  was  put  into  the  sack  he  fell  on 
his  knees  and  thanked  him;  but  no  sooner  was  the  priest 
safely  inside  it  than  the  master-thief  began  to  drag  him 
away  over  stocks  and  stones. 

"  Oh !  oh !  "  cried  the  priest  in  the  sack.  "  Where  are  you 
taking  me?" 

"  This  is  the  way  to  heaven.  The  way  to  heaven  is  not  an 
easy  one,"  said  the  master-thief,  and  dragged  him  along  till 
he  all  but  killed  him. 

At  last  he  flung  him  into  the  governor's  goose-house,  and 
the  geese  began  to  hiss  and  peck  at  him,  till  he  felt  more 
dead  than  alive. 

"  Oh !  oh !  oh !    Where  am  I  now  ?  "  asked  the  priest. 

"  Now  you  are  in  purgatory,"  said  the  master-thief,  and  off 


76 


THE    RED    FAIRY    BOOK. 


he  went  and  took  the  gold  and  the  silver  and  all  the  precious 

things  which  the  priest  had  laid  together  in  his  best  parlor. 

Next  morning  when  the  goose-girl   came  to  let   out  the 


Wither  Lawrence,  Conceiving  Himself  to  be  Addressed  by  an  AngeL 
Falls  on  His  Knees  Before  Him. 


geese,  she  heard  the  priest  bemoaning  himseF  3s  he  lay  in 
the  sack  in  the  goose-house. 


THE   RED    FAIRY   BOOK.  77 

"  Oh,  heavens !  what  is  that,  and  what  ails  you  ? "  said  she. 

"  Oh,"  said  the  priest,  "  if  you  are  an  angel  from  heaven 
do  let  me  out  and  let  me  go  back  to  earth  again,  for  no  place 
was  ever  so  bad  as  this — the  little  fiends  nip  me  so  with 
their  tongues." 

"  I  am  no  angel,"  said  the  girl,  and  helped  the  priest  out 
of  the  sack.  "I  only  look  after  the  governor's  geese,  that's 
what  I  do,  and  they  are  the  little  fiends  which  have  pinched 
your  reverence." 

"  This  is  the  master-thief's  doing  I  Oh,  my  gold  and  my 
silver  and  my  best  clothes !  "  shrieked  the  priest,  and,  wild 
with  rage,  he  ran  home  so  fast  that  the  goose-girl  thought 
he  had  suddenly  gone  mad. 

When  the  governor  learned  what  had  happened  to  the 
priest  he  laughed  till  he  nearly  killed  himself,  but  when 
the  master-thief  came  and  wanted  to  have  his  daughter  ac- 
cording to  promise,  he  once  more  gave  him  nothing  but  fine 
words,  and  said,  "  You  must  give  me  one  more  proof  of  your 
skill,  so  that  I  can  really  judge  of  your  worth.  I  have  twelve 
horses  in  my  stable,  and  I  will  put  twelve  stable-boys  in  it, 
one  on  each  horse.  If  you  are  clever  enough  to  steal  the 
horses  from  under  them,  I  will  see  what  I  can  do  for  you." 

"What  you  set  me  to  do  can  be  done,"  said  the  master- 
thief,  "  but  am  I  certain  to  get  your  daughter  when  it  is? " 

"  Yes ;  if  you  can  do  that  I  will  do  my  best  for  you,"  said 
the  governor. 

So  the  master-thief  went  to  a  shop  and  bought  enough 
brandy  to  fill  two  pocket  flasks,  and  he  put  a  sleeping  drink 
into  one  of  these,  but  into  the  other  he  poured  brandy  only. 
Then  he  engaged  eleven  men  to  lie  that  night  in  hiding 
behind  the  governor's  stable.  After  this,  by  fair  words  and 
good  payment,  he  borrowed  a  ragged  gown  and  a  jerkin 
from  an  aged  woman,  and  then,  with  a  staff  in  his  hand  and 
a  poke  on  his  back,  he  hobbled  off  as  evening  came  on  to- 
ward the  governor's  stable.  The  stable  boys  were  just  water- 
ing the  horses  for  the  night,  and  it  was  quite  as  much  as  they 
could  do  to  attend  to  that. 

"What  on  earth  do  you  want  here?"  said  one  of  them  to 
the  old  woman. 

"  Oh,  dear,  oh,  dear !  How  cold  it  is !  "  she  said,  sobbing, 
and  shivering  with  cold.     "  Oh,  dear !   oh,  dear !  it's  cold 


78  THE   RED    FAIRY   BOOK. 

enough  to  freeze  a  poor  old  body  to  death !  "  and  she  shir- 
ered  and  shook  again,  and  said,  "  For  Heaven's  sake  give  me 
leave  to  stay  here  and  sit  just  inside  the  stable  door." 

"  You  will  get  nothing  of  the  kind !  Be  off  this  moment ! 
If  the  governor  were  to  catch  sight  of  you  here,  he  would 
lead  us  a  pretty  dance,"  said  one. 

"  Oh !  what  a  poor  helpless  old  creature ! "  said  another, 
who  felt  sorry  for  her.  "  That  poor  old  woman  can  do  no 
harm  to  anyone.     She  may  sit  there  and  welcome." 

The  rest  of  them  thought  that  she  ought  not  to  stay,  but 
while  they  were  disputing  about  this  and  looking  after  the 
horses,  she  crept  further  and  further  into  the  stable,  and  at 
last  sat  down  behind  the  door,  and  when  once  she  was  inside 
no  one  took  any  more  notice  of  her. 

As  the  night  wore  on  the  stable-boys  found  it  rather  cold 
work  to  sit  still  on  horseback. 

"  Hutetu !  But  it  is  fearfully  cold !  "  said  one,  and  began 
to  beat  his  arms  backward  and  forward  across  his  breast. 

"  Yes,  I  am  so  cold  that  my  teeth  are  chattering,"  said  an» 
other. 

"  If  one  had  but  a  little  tobacco,"  said  a  third. 

Well,  one  of  them  had  a  little,  so  they  shared  it  among 
them,  though  there  was  very  little  for  each  man,  but  they 
chewed  it.  This  was  some  help  for  them,  but  very  soon  they 
were  just  as  cold  as  before. 

"  Hutetu !  "  said  one  of  them,  shivering  again. 

"  Hutetu !  "  said  the  old  woman,  gnashing  her  teeth  to- 
gether till  they  chattered  inside  her  mouth ;  and  then  she  got 
out  the  flask  which  contained  nothing  but  brandy,  and  her 
hands  trembled  so  that  she  shook  the  bottle  about,  and  when 
she  drank  it  made  a  great  gulp  in  her  throat. 

"  What  is  that  you  have  in  your  flask,  old  woman  ? "  asked 
one  of  the  stable-boys. 

"  Oh,  it's  only  a  drop  of  brandy,  your  honor,"  she  said. 

"Brandy!  What!  Let  me  have  a  drop!  Let  me  have 
a  drop ! "  screamed  all  the  twelve  at  once. 

"  Oh,  but  what  I  have  is  so  little,"  whimpered  the  old 
woman.     "  It  will  not  even  wet  your  mouths." 

But  they  were  determined  to  have  it,  and  there  was  noth- 
ing to  be  done  but  give  it ;  so  she  took  out  the  flask  with  the 
sleeping  drink  and  put  it  to  the  lips  of  the  first  of  them ;  and 


THE   RED   FAIRY   BOOK.  791 

now  she  shook  no  more,  but  guided  the  flask  so  that  each 
of  them  got  just  as  much  as  he  ought,  and  the  twelfth  had 
not  done  drinking  before  the  first  was  already  sitting  snor- 
ing. Then  the  master-thief  flung  off  his  beggar's  rags,  and 
took  one  stable  boy  after  the  other  and  gently  set  him 
astride  on  the  partitions  which  divided  the  stalls,  and  then 
he  -called  his  eleven  men  who  were  waiting  outside,  and  they 
rode  off  with  the  governor's  horses. 

In  the  morning  when  the  governor  came  to  look  after  his 
stable-boys  they  were  just  beginning  to  come  to  again. 
They  were  driving  their  spurs  into  the  partition  till  the 
splinters  flew  about,  and  some  of  the  boys  fell  off,  and  some 
hung  on  and  sat  looking  like  fools.  "  Ah,  well,"  said  the 
governor,  "  it  is  easy  to  see  who  has  been  here ;  but  what  a 
worthless  set  of  fellows  you  must  be  to  sit  here  and  let  the 
master-thief  steal  the  horses  from  under  you !  "  And  they  all 
got  a  beating  for  not  having  kept  watch  better. 

Later  in  the  day  the  master-thief  came  and  related  what 
he  had  done,  and  wanted  to  have  the  governor's  daughter* 
as  had  been  promised.  But  the  governor  gave  him  a  hun- 
dred dollars,  and  said  that  he  must  do  something  that  was 
better  still. 

"  Do  you  think  you  can  steal  my  horse  from  under  me 
when  I  am  out  riding  on  it  ? "  said  he. 

"  Well,  it  might  be  done,"  said  the  master-thief,  "  if  I  were 
absolutely  certain  that  I  should  get  your  daughter." 

So  the  governor  said  that  he  would  see  what  he  could  do, 
and  then  he  said  that  on  a  certain  day  he  would  ride  out 
to  a  great  common  where  they  drilled  the  soldiers. 

So  the  master-thief  immediately  got  hold  of  an  old  worn- 
out  mare,  and  set  himself  to  work  to  make  a  collar  for  it 
of  green  withes  and  branches  of  broom;  bought  a  shabby 
old  cart  and  a  great  cask,  and  then  he  told  a  poor  -old  beg- 
gar woman  that  he  would  give  her  ten  dollars  if  she  would 
get  into  the  cask  and  keep  her  mouth  wide  open  beneath  the 
tap-hole,  into  which  he  was  going  to  stick  his  finger.  No 
harm  should  happen  to  her,  he  said;  she  should  only  be 
driven  about  a  little,  and  if  he  took  his  finger  out  more  than 
once  she  should  have  ten  dollars  more.  Then  he  dressed 
himself  in  rags,  dyed  himself  with  soot,  and  put  on  a  wig 
and  a  great  beard  of  goat's  hair,  so  that  it  was  impossible 


80 


THE    RED    FAIRY    BOOK. 


to  reco&:iize  him,  and  went  to  the  parade  ground,  where  th© 
governor  had  already  been  riding  about  a  long  time. 

When  the  master-thief  got  there  the  mare  went  along  so 
slowly  and  quietly  that  the  cart  hardly  seemed  to  move  from 
the  spot.  The  mare  pulled  it  a  little  forward,  and  then  a 
little  back,  and  then  it  stopped  quite  short.  Then  the  mare 
pulled  a  little  forward  again,  and  it  moved  with  such  diffi- 
culty that  the  governor  had  not  the  least  idea   that  this 


was  the  master-thief.  He  rode  straight  up  to  him  and  asked 
him  if  he  had  seen  anyone  hiding  anywhere  about  in  a  wood 
that  was  close  by. 

"  No,"  said  the  man,  "  that  I  have  not." 

"Hark  you,"  said  the  governor.  "If  you  will  ride  into 
that  wood  and  search  it  carefully  to  see  if  you  can  light  upon 
a  fellow  who  is  hiding  in  there,  you  shall  have  the  loan  of 
my  horse  and  a  good  present  of  money  for  your  trouble." 

"  I  am  not  sure  that  I  can  do  it,"  said  the  man,  "  for  I 
have  to  go  to  a  wedding  with  this  cask  of  mead  which  I  have 
been  to  fetch,  and  the  tap  has  fallen  out  on  the  way,  so  now  I 
have  to  keep  my  finger  in  the  tap-hole  as  I  drive." 

"  Oh,  just  ride  off,"  said  the  governor,  "  and  I  will  look 
after  the  cask  and  the  horse,  too." 

So  the  man  said  that  if  he  would  do  that  he  would  go,  but 


THE   RED    FAIRY   BOOK.  81 

he  begged  the  governor  to  be  very  careful  to  put  his  finger 
into  the  tap-hole  the  moment  he  took  his  out. 

oo  the  governor  said  that  he  would  do  his  very  best,  and 
the  master-thief  got  on  the  governor's  horse. 

But  time  passed,  and  it  grew  later  and  later,  and  still  the 
man  did  not  come  back,  and  at  last  the  governor  got  so 
weary  of  keeping  his  finger  in  the  tap-hole  that  he  took  it 
out. 

"  !STow  I  shall  have  ten  dollars  more !  "  cried  the  old  woman 
inside  the  cask;  so  he  soon  saw  what  kind  of  mead  it  was, 
and  set  out  homeward.  When  he  had  gone  a  very  little  way 
he  met  his  servant  bringing  him  the  horse,  for  the  master- 
thief  had  already  taken  it  home. 

The  following  day  he  went  to  the  governor  and  wanted 
to  have  his  daughter,  according  to  promise.  But  the  gov- 
ernor again  put  him  off  with  fine  words,  and  only  gave  him 
three  hundred  dollars,  saying  that  he  must  do  one  more  mas- 
terpiece of  skill,  and  if  he  were  but  able  to  do  that  he  should 
have  her. 

Well,  the  master-thief  thought  he  might  if  he  could  hear 
what  it  was. 

"  Do  you  think  you  can  steal  the  sheet  off  our  bed,  and  my 
wif  e;s  night-gown  ?  "  said  the  governor. 

"  That  is  by  no  means  impossible,"  said  the  master-thief. 
"  I  only  wish  I  could  get  your  daughter  as  easily." 

So  late  at  night  the  master-thief  went  and  cut  down  a 
thief  who  was  hanging  on  the  gallows,  laid  him  on  his  own 
shoulders  and  took  him  away  with  him.  Then  he  got  hold 
of  a  long  ladder,  set  it  up  against  the  governor's  bedroom 
window,  and  climbed  up  and  moved  the  dead  man's  head  up 
and  down,  just  as  if  he  were  someone  who  was  standing  out- 
side and  peeping  in. 

"  There's  the  master-thief,  mother !  "  said  the  governor, 
nudging  his  wife.     "  Now  I'll  just  shoot  him,  that  I  will !  " 

So  he  took  up  a  rifle  which  he  had  laid  at  his  bedside. 

"  Oh,  no,  you  must  not  do  that,"  said  his  wife ;  "  you  your- 
self arranged  that  he  was  to  come  here." 

"  Yes,  mother,  I  will  shoot  him,"  said  he,  and  lay  there 
aiming,  and  then  aiming  again,  for  no  sooner  was  the  head 
up  and  he  caught  sight  of  it  than  it  was  gone  again.  At  last 
he  got  a  chance  and  fired,  and  the  dead  body  fell   with  a 


82  THE   RED    FAIRY   BOOK. 

loud  thud  to  the  ground,  and  down  went  the  master-thief, 
too,  as  fast  as  he  could. 

"  Well,"  said  the  governor,  "  I  certainly  am  the  chief  man 
about  here,  but  people  soon  begin  to  talk,  and  it  would  be 
very  unpleasant  if  they  were  to  see  this  dead  body;  the  best 
thing  I  can  do  is  to  go  out  and  bury  him." 

"  Just  do  what  you  think  best,  father,"  said  his  wife. 

So  the  governor  got  up  and  went  downstairs,  and  as  soon 
as  he  had  gone  out  through  the  door,  the  master-thief  stole 
in  and  went  straight  upstairs  to  the  woman. 

"  Well,  father  dear,"  said  she,  for  she  thought  it  was  her 
husband.     "  Have  you  got  done  already  ?  " 

"  Oh,  yes,  I  only  put  him  into  a  hole,"  said  he,  "  and 
raked  a  little  earth  over  him;  that's  all  I  have  been  able  to 
do  to-night,  for  it  is  fearful  weather  outside.  I  will  bury 
him  better  afterward,  but  just  let  me  have  the  sheet  to  wipe 
myself  with,  for  he  was  bleeding,  and  I  have  got  covered 
with  blood  with  carrying  him." 

So  she  gave  him  the  sheet. 

"You  will  have  to  let  me  have  your  night-gown,  too,"  he 
said,  "  for  I  begin  to  see  the  sheet  won't  be  enough." 

Then  she  gave  him  her  night-gown,  but  just  then  it  came 
into  his  head  that  he  had  forgotten  to  lock  the  door,  and  he 
was  forced  to  go  downstairs  and  do  it  before  he  could  lie 
down  in  bed  again.  So  off  he  went  with  the  sheet  and  the 
night-gown  too. 

An  hour  later  the  real  governor  returned. 

"  Well,  what  a  time  it  has  taken  to  lock  the  house  door, 
father ! "  said  his  wife,  "  and  what  have  you  done  with  the 
sheet  and  the  night-gown  ? " 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  "  asked  the  governor. 

"  Oh,  I  am  asking  you  what  you  have  done  with  the  night- 
gown and  the  sheet  that  you  got  to  wipe  the  blood  off  your- 
self with,"  said  she. 

"  Good  heavens !  "  said  the  governor,  "  has  he  actually  got 
the  better  of  me  again  ? " 

When  day  came  the  master-thief  came  too,  arid  the  gover- 
nor dared  not  do  otherwise  than  give  his  daughter  to  him, 
and  much  money  besides,  for  he  feared  that  if  he  did  not 
the  master-thief  might  steal  the  very  eyes  out  of  his  head, 
and  that  he  himself  would  be  ill-spoken  of  by  all  men.    The 


THE   BED    FAIRY   BOOK.  83 

master-thief  lived  well  and  happily  from  that  time  forth, 
and  whether  he  ever  stole  any  more  or  not  I  cannot  tell  you, 
but  if  he  did  it  was  but  for  pastime. 


BROTHER  AND  SISTEE  * 

Brother  took  sister  by  the  hand  and  said :  "  Look  here ;  we 
haven't  had  one  single  happy  hour  since  our  mother  died. 
That  stepmother  of  ours  beats  us  regularly  every  day,  and  if 
we  dare  go  near  her  she  kicks  us  away.  We  never  get  any- 
thing but  hard,  dry  crusts  to  eat — why,  the  dog  under  the 
table  is  better  off  than  we  are.  She  does  throw  him  a  good 
morsel  or  two  now  and  then.  Oh,  dear!  if  our  own  dear 
mother  only  knew  all  about  it!  Come  along,  and  let  us  go 
forth  into  the  wide  world  together." 

So  off  they  started  through  fields  and  meadows,  over 
hedges  and  ditches,  and  walked  through  the  whole  day  long, 
and  when  it  rained  sister  said: 

"  Heaven  and  our  hearts  are  weeping  together." 

Toward  evening  they  came  to  a  large  forest  and  were  so 
tired  out  with  hunger  and  their  long  walk,  as  well  as  their 
trouble,  that  they  crept  into  a  hollow  tree  and  soon  fell  fast 
asleep. 

Next  morning,  when  they  woke  up,  the  sun  was  already 
high  in  the  heavens  and  was  shining  down  bright  and  warm 
into  the  tree.     Then  said  brother: 

"  I'm  so  thirsty,  sister ;  if  I  did  but  know  where  to  find  a 
little  stream,  I'd  go  and  have  a  drink.  I  do  believe  I  hear 
one."  He  jumped  up,  took  sister  by  the  hand,  and  they  set 
off  to  hunt  for  the  brook. 

Now  their  cruel  stepmother  was  in  reality  a  witch,  and 
she  knew  perfectly  well  that  the  two  children  had  run  away. 
She  had  crept  secretly  after  them  and  had  cast  her  spells 
over  all  the  streams  in  the  forest. 

Presently  the  children  found  a  little  brook  dancing  and 
glittering  over  the  stones,  and  brother  was  eager  to  drink 
of  it,  but  as  it  rushed  past  sister  heard  it  murmuring: 

"  Who  drinks  of  me  will  be  a  tiger !  who  drinks  of  me  will 
be  a  tiger !  " 

*  Grimm. 


84 


THE    RED    FAIRY    BOOK. 


So  she  cried  out,  "  Oh !  dear  brother,  pray  don't  drink,  or 
you'll  be  turned  into  a  wild  beast  and  tear  me  to  pieces." 

Brother  was  dreadfully  thirsty,  but  he  did  not  drink. 

"  Very  well,"  said  he,  "  I'll  wait  till  we  come  to  the  next 
spring." 

When  they  came  to  the  second  brook,  sister  heard  it  re- 
peating too: 

"  Who  drinks  of  me  will  be  a  wolf !  who  drinks  of  me  will 
be  a  wolf !  " 

And  she  cried,  "  Oh !  brother,  pray  don't  drink  here,  either, 
or  you'll  be  turned  into  a  wolf  and  eat  me  up." 

Again  brother  did  not  drink,  but  he  said: 

"Well,   I'll  wait  a  little   longer  till  we  reach  the  next 


stream,  but  then,  whatever  you  may  say,  I  really  must  drink, 
for  I  can  bear  this  thirst  no  longer." 

And  when  they  got  to  the  third  brook,  sister  heard  it  say 
as  it  rushed  past : 

"  Who  drinks  of  me  will  be  a  roe !  who  drinks  of  me  will 
be  a  roe !  " 

And  she  begged,  "  Ah !  brother,  don't  drink  yet,  or  you'll 
become  a  roe  and  run  away  from  me." 

But  her  brother  was  already  kneeling  by  the  brook  and 
bending  over  it  to  drink,  and,  sure,  enough,  no  sooner  had 


THE   RED    FAIRY   BOOK.  85 

his  lips  touched  the  water  than  he  fell  on  the  grass,  trans- 
formed into  a  little  roebuck. 

Sister  cried  bitterly  over  her  poor  bewitched  brother,  and 
the  little  roe  wept  too,  and  sat  sadly  by  her  side.  At  last  the 
girl  said: 

"  Never  mind,  dear  little  fawn,  I  will  never  forsake  you," 
and  she  took  off  her  golden  garter  and  tied  it  round  the  roe's 
neck. 

Then  she  plucked  rushes  and  plaited  a  soft  cord  of  them, 
which  she  fastened  to  the  collar.  When  she  had  done  this 
she  led  the  roe  further  and  further,  right  into  the  depths 
of  the  forest. 

After  they  had  gone  a  long,  long  way  they  came  to  a  little 
house,  and  when  the  girl  looked  into  it  she  found  it  was 
quite  empty,  and  she  thought  "perhaps  we  might  stay  and 
live  here." 

So  she  hunted  up  leaves  and  moss  to  make  a  soft  bed  for 
the  little  roe,  and  every  morning  and  evening  she  went  out 
and  gathered  roots,  nuts,  and  berries  for  herself,  and  tender 
young  grass  for  the  fawn.  And  he  fed  from  her  hand,  and 
played  round  her  and  seemed  quite  happy.  In  the  evening, 
when  sister  was  tired,  she  said  her  prayers  and  then  laid 
her  head  on  the  fawn's  back  and  fell  sound  asleep  with  it 
as  a  pillow.  And  if  brother  had  but  kept  his  natural  form, 
really  it  would  have  been  a  most  delightful  kind  of  life. 

They  had  been  living  for  some  time  in  the  forest  in  this 
way,  when  it  came  to  pass  that  the  king  of  that  country  had 
a  great  hunt  through  the  woods.  Then  the  whole  forest 
rang  with  such  a  blowing  of  horns,  baying  of  dogs,  and  joy- 
ful cries  of  huntsmen,  that  the  little  roe  heard  it  and  longed 
to  join  in  too. 

"  Ah !  "  said  he  to  sister,  "  do  let  me  go  off  to  the  hunt !  I 
can't  keep  still  any  longer." 

And  he  begged  and  prayed  until  at  last  she  consented. 

"  But,"  said  she,  "  mind  you  come  back  in  the  evening.  I 
shall  lock  my  door  fast  for  fear  of  those  wild  huntsmen ;  so, 
to  make  sure  of  my  knowing  you,  knock  at  the  door  and  say, 
'My  sister,  dear,  open;  I'm  here.'  If  you  don't  speak,  I 
shan't  open  the  door." 

So  off  sprang  the  little  roe,  and  he  felt  quite  well  and 
happy  in  the  free  open  air. 


86  THE   RED    FAIRY    BOOK. 

The  king  and  his  huntsmen  soon  saw  the  beautiful  creat- 
ure and  started  in  pursuit,  but  they  could  not  come  up  with 
it,  and  whenever  they  thought  they  were  sure  to  catch  it, 
it  bounded  off  to  one  side  into  the  bushes  and  disappeared. 
When  night  came  on  it  ran  home,  and  knocking  at  the  door 
of  the  little  house,  cried: 

"  My  sister,  dear,  open ;  I'm  here."  The  door  opened,  and 
he  ran  in  and  rested  all  night  on  his  soft  mossy  bed. 

Next  morning  the  hunt  began  again,  and  as  soon  as  the 
little  roe  heard  the  horns  and  the  "  Ho !  ho !  "  of  the  hunts- 
men, he  could  not  rest  another  moment,  and  said: 

"  Sister,  open  the  door,  I  must  get  out." 

So  sister  opened  the  door  and  said,  "  Now  mind  and  get 
back  by  nightfall,  and  say  your  little  rhyme." 

As  soon  as  the  king  and  his  huntsmen  saw  the  roe  with  the 
golden  collar  they  all  rode  off  after  it,  but  it  was  far  too 
quick  and  nimble  for  them.  This  went  on  all  day,  but  as 
evening  came  on  the  huntsmen  had  gradually  encircled  the 
roe,  and  one  of  them  wounded  it  slightly  in  the  foot,  so  that 
it  limped  and  ran  off  slowly. 

Then  the  huntsman  stole  after  it  as  far  as  the  little  house, 
and  heard  it  call  out,  "  My  sister,  dear,  open ;  I'm  here,"  and 
he  saw  the  door  open  and  close  immediately  the  fawn  had 
run  in. 

The  huntsman  remembered  all  this  carefully,  and  went 
off  straight  to  the  king  and  told  him  all  he  had  seen  and 
heard. 

"  To-morrow  we  will  hunt  again,"  said  the  king. 

Poor  sister  was  terribly  frightened  when  she  saw  how  her 
little  fawn  had  been  wounded.  She  washed  off  the  blood, 
bound  up  the  injured  foot  with  herbs,  and  said:  "Now, 
dear,  go  and  lie  down  and  rest,  so  that  your  wound  may 
heal." 

The  wound  was  really  so  slight  that  it  was  quite  well  next 
day,  and  the  little  roe  did  not  feel  it  at  all.  No  sooner  did  it 
hear  the  sounds  of  hunting  in  the  forest  than  it  cried: 

"I  can't  stand  this,  I  must  be  there  too;  I'll  take  care 
they  shan't  catch  me." 

Sister  began  to  cry,  and  said,  "  They  are  certain  to  kill 
you,  and  then  I  shall  be  left  all  alone  in  the  forest  and  for- 
saken by  everyone*    I  can't  and  won't  let  you  out." 


THE    EED    FAIRY    BOOK.  87 

u  Then  I  shall  die  of  grief,"  replied  the  roe,  "  for  when 
I  hear  that  horn  I  feel  as  if  I  must  jump  right  out  of  my 
skin." 

So  at  last,  when  sister  found  there  was  nothing  else  to 
be  done,  she  opened  the  door  with  a  heavy  heart,  and  the 
roe  darted  forth,  full  of  glee  and  health,  into  the  forest. 

As  soon  as  the  king  saw  the  roe,  he  said  to  his  huntsman, 
"  Now  then,  give  chase  to  it  all  day  until  evening,  but  mind 
and  be  careful  not  to  hurt  it." 

When  the  sun  had  set  the  king  said  to  his  huntsman, 
"  Now  come  and  show  me  the  little  house  you  saw  in  tne 
wood." 

And  when  he  got  to  the  house  he  knocked  at  the  dootr  and 
said,  "  My  sister,  dear,  open;  I'm  here."  Then  the  door 
opened  and  the  king  walked  in,  and  there  stood  the  love- 
liest maiden  he  had  ever  seen. 

The  girl  was  much  startled  when  instead  of  the  little  roe 
she  expected  she  saw  a  man  with  a  gold  crown  on  his  head 
walk  in.  But  the  king  looked  kindly  at  her,  held  out  his 
hand,  and  said,  "  Will  you  come  with  me  to  my  castle  and  be 
my  dear  wife  ?  " 

"  Oh,  yes !"  replied  the  maiden,  "  but  you  must  let  my  roe 
come  too.    I  could  not  possibly  forsake  it." 

"  It  shall  stay  with  you  as  long  as  you  live,  and  shall  want 
for  nothing,"  the  king  promised. 

In  the  meantime  the  roe  came  bounding  in,  and  sister  tied 
the  rush  cord  once  more  to  its  collar,  took  the  end  in  her 
hand,  and  so  they  left  the  little  house  in  the  forest  to- 
gether. 

The  king  lifted  the  lovely  maiden  onto  his  horse,  and  led 
her  to  his  castle,  where  the  wedding  was  celebrated  with  the 
greatest  splendor.  The  roe  was  petted  and  caressed,  and  ran 
about  at  will  in  the  palace  gardens. 

Now  all  this  time  the  wicked  stepmother,  who  had  been  the 
cause  of  these  poor  children's  misfortunes  and  trying  adven- 
tures, was  feeling  persuaded  that  sister  had  been  torn  to 
pieces  by  wild  beasts,  and  brother  shot  to  death  in  the  shape 
of  a  roe.  When  she  heard  how  happy  and  prosperous  they 
were,  her  heart  was  filled  with  envy  and  hatred,  and  she  could 
think  of  nothing  but  how  to  bnng  some  fresh  misfortune 
on  them.     Her  own  daughter,  who  was  as  hideous  as  nigkt 


88 


THE    RED    FAIRY    BOOK. 


and  had  only  one  eye,  reproached  her  by  saying,  "It  is  I 
who  ought  to  have  had  this  good  luck  and  been  queen." 

"  Be  quiet,  will  you,"  said  the  old  woman,  "  when  the  time 
comes  I  shall  be  at  hand." 

Now  after  some  time  it  happened  one  day  when  the  king 

was  out  hunting  that  the 
queen  gave  birth  to  a  beauti- 
ful little  boy.  The  old  witch 
thought  here  was  a  good 
chance  for  her;  so  she  took 
the  form  of  the  lady  in  wait- 
ing, and  hurrying  into  the 
room  where  the  queen  lay  in 
her  bed,  called  out,  "  The 
bath  is  quite  ready;  it  will 
help  to  make  you  strong 
again.  Come,  let  us  be 
quick,  for  fear  the  water 
should  get  cold."  Her 
daughter  was  at  hand,  too, 
and  between  them  they  car- 
ried the  queen,  who  was  still 
very  weak,  into  the  bath- 
room and  laid  her  in  the 
bath;  then  they  locked  the 
door  and  ran  away. 
They  took  care  beforehand  to  make  a  blazing  hot  fire 
under  the  bath,  so  that  the  lovely  young  queen  might  be 
suffocated. 

As  soon  as  they  were  sure  this  was  the  case  the  old  witch 
tied  a  cap  on  her  daughter's  head  and  laid  her  in  the  queen's 
bed.  She  managed,  too,  to  make  her  figure  and  general  ap- 
pearance look  like  the  queen's,  but  even  her  power  could  not 
restore  the  eye  she  had  lost;  so  she  made  her  lie  on  the  side 
of  the  missing  eye,  to  prevent  the  king's  noticing  anything. 
In  the  evening  when  the  king  came  home  and  heard  the 
news  of  his  son's  birth,  he  was  full  of  delight,  and  insisted 
on  going  at  once  to  his  dear  wife's  bedside  to  see  how  she 
was  getting  on.  But  the  old  witch  cried  out,  "  Take  care  and 
keep  the  curtains  drawn;  don't  let  the  light  get  into  the 
queen's  eyes;  she  must  be  kept  perfectly  quiet.'     So  the  king 


THE   RED    FAIRY    BOOK.  89 

went  away  and  never  knew  that  it  was  a  false  queen  that 
lay  in  the  bed. 

When  midnight  came  and  everyone  in  the  palace  was 
sound  asleep,  the  nurse  who  alone  watched  by  the  baby's 
cradle  in  the  nursery  saw  the  door  open  gently,  and  who 
should  come  in  but  the  real  queen.  She  lifted  the  child 
from  its  cradle,  laid  it  on  her  arm,  and  nursed  it  for  some 
time.  Then  she  carefully  shook  up  the  pillows  of  the  little 
bed,  laid  the  baby  down  and  tucked  the  coverlet  in  all  round 
him.  She  did  not  forget  the  little  roe,  either,  but  went  to 
the  corner  where  it  lay,  and  gently  stroked  its  back.  Then 
she  silently  left  the  room,  and  next  morning  when  the  nurse 
asked  the  sentries  if  they  had  seen  anyone  go  into  the  castle 
that  night,  they  all  said,  "  No,  we  saw  no  one  at  all." 

For  many  nights  the  queen  came  in  the  same  way,  but 
she  never  spoke  a  word,  and  the  nurse  was  too  frightened 
to  say  anything  about  her  visits. 

After  some  little  time  had  elapsed  the  queen  spoke  one 
night,  and  said: 

M  Is  my  child  well?    Is  my  Roe  well? 
I'll  come  back  twice  and  then  farewell." 

The  nurse  made  no  answer,  but  as  soon  as  the  queen  had 
disappeared  she  went  to  the  king  and  told  him  all.  The 
king  exclaimed,  "  Good  heavens !  what  do  you  say  ?  I  will 
watch  myself  to-night  by  the  child's  bed." 

When  the  evening  came  he  went  to  the  nursery,  and  at 
midnight  the  queen  appeared  and  said: 

"  Is  my  child  well?    Is  my  Roe  well? 
I'll  come  back  once  and  then  farewell." 

And  she  nursed  and  petted  the  child  as  usual  before  she 
disappeared.  The  king  dared  not  trust  himself  to  speak  to 
her,  but  the  following  night  he  kept  watch  again. 

That  night  when  the  queen  came  she  said: 

"  Is  my  child  well?    Is  my  Roe  well? 
I've  come  this  once,  and  now  farewell." 

Then  the  king  could  restrain  himself  no  longer,  but  sprang 
to  her  side  and  cried,  "  You  can  be  no  one  but  my  dear 
wife!" 

"  Yes,"  said  she,  "  I  am  your  dear  wife ! "  and  in  the  sam\i 


90  THE   BED    FAIRY   BOOK. 

moment  she  was  restored  to  life,  and  was  as  fresh  and  well 
and  rosy  as  ever.  Then  she  told  the  king  all  the  cruel  things 
the  wicked  witch  and  her  daughter  had  done.  The  king  had 
them  both  arrested  at  once,  and  brought  to  trial,  and  they 
were  condemned  to  death.  The  daughter  was  led  into  the 
forest,  where  the  wild  beasts  tore  her  to  pieces,  and  the  old 
witch  was  burned  at  the  stake. 

As  soon  as  she  was  reduced  to  ashes  the  spell  was  taken  off 
the  little  roe,  and  he  was  restored  to  his  natural  shape  once 
more,  and  so  brother  and  sister  lived  happily  ever  after. 


PRINCESS  ROSETTE* 

Once  upon  a  time  there  lived  a  king  and  queen  who  had 
two  beautiful  sons  and  one  little  daughter,  who  was  so  pretty 
that  no  one  who  saw  her  could  help  loving  her.  When  it 
was  time  for  the  christening  of  the  princess,  the  queen — as 
she  always  did — sent  for  all  the  fairies  to  be  present  at  the 
ceremony,  and  afterward  invited  them  to  a  splendid  banquet. 

When  it  was  all  over,  and  they  were  preparing  to  go  away, 
the  queen  said  to  them : 

"  Do  not  forget  your  usual  good  custom.  Tell  me  what 
is  going  to  happen  to  Rosette." 

Eor  that  was  the  name  they  had  given  the  princess. 

But  the  fairies  said  they  had  left  their  book  of  magic  at 
home  and  they  would  come  another  day  and  tell  her. 

"  Ah !  "  said  the  queen,  "  I  know  very  well  what  that  means 
— you  have  nothing  good  to  say;  but  at  least  I  beg  that  you 
will  not  hide  anything  from  me." 

So,  after  a  great  deal  of  persuasion,  they  said : 

"  Madam,  we  fear  that  Rosette  may  be  the  cause  of  great 
misfortunes  to  her  brothers;  they  may  even  meet  with  their 
death  through  her;  that  is  all  we  have  been  able  to  foresee 
about  your  dear  little  daughter.  We  are  very  sorry  to  have 
nothing  better  to  tell  you." 

Then  they  went  away,  leaving  the  queen  very  sad,  so  sad 
that  the  king  noticed  it,  and  asked  her  what  was  the  matter. 

The  queen  said  she  had  been  sitting  too  near  the  fire,  and 
had  burned  all  the  flax  that  was  upon  her  distaff. 
*  Madame  d'Aulnoy. 


THE   RED    FAIRY    BOOK.  91 

"  Oh !  is  that  all  ? "  said  the  king,  and  he  went  up  into 
the  garret  and  brought  her  down  more  flax  than  she  could 
spin  in  a  hundred  years.  But  the  queen  still  looked  sad,  and 
the  king  asked  her  again  what  was  the  matter.  She  an- 
swered that  she  had  been  walking  by  the  river  and  had 
dropped  one  of  her  green  satin  slippers  into  the  water. 

"  Oh !  if  that's  all,"  said  the  king,  and  he  sent  to  all  the 
shoemakers  in  his  kingdom,  and  they  very  soon  made  the 
queen  ten  thousand  green  satin  slippers,  but  still  she  looked 
sad.  So  the  king  asked  her  again  what  was  the  matter,  and 
this  time  she  answered  that  in  eating  her  porridge  too  has- 
tily she  had  swallowed  her  wedding  ring.  But  it  so  happened 
that  the  king  knew  better,  for  he  had  the  ring  himself,  and 
he  said: 

"  Oh !  you  are  not  telling  me  the  truth,  for  I  have  your 
ring  here  in  my  purse." 

Then  the  queen  was  very  much  ashamed,  and  she  saw  that 
the  king  was  vexed  with  her;  so  she  told  him  all  that  the 
fairies  had  predicted  about  Rosette,  and  begged  him  to  think 
how  the  misfortunes  might  be  prevented. 

Then  it  was  the  king's  turn  to  look  sad,  and  at  last  he 
said: 

"  I  see  no  way  of  saving  our  sons  except  by  having  Ro- 
sette's head  cut  off  while  she  is  still  little." 

But  the  queen  cried  that  she  would  far  rather  have  her  own 
head  cut  off,  and  that  he  had  better  think  of  something  else, 
for  she  would  never  consent  to  such  a  thing.  So  they  thought 
and  thought,  but  they  could  not  tell  what  to  do,  until  at  last 
the  queen  heard  that  in  a  great  forest  near  the  castle  there 
was  an  old  hermit,  who  lived  in  a  hollow  tree,  and  that  peo- 
ple came  from  far  and  near  to  consult  him;  so  she  said: 

"  I  had  better  go  and  ask  his  advice ;  perhaps  he  will  know 
what  to  do  to  prevent  the  misfortunes  which  the  fairies  fore- 
told." 

She  set  out  very  early  the  next  morning,  mounted  upon  a 
pretty  little  white  mule,  which  was  shod  with  solid  gold,  and 
two  of  her  ladies  rode  behind  her  on  beautiful  horses.  When 
they  reached  the  forest  they  dismounted,  for  the  trees  grew 
bo  thickly  that  the  horses  could  not  pass,  and  made  their 
way  on  foot  to  the  hollow  tree  where  the  hermit  lived.  At 
first  when  he  saw  them  coming  he  was  vexed,  for  he  was 


92 


THE    RED    FAIRY    BOOK. 


not  fond  of  ladies;  but  when  he  recognized  the  queen  he 
said: 

"  You  are  welcome,  queen.  What  do  you  come  to  ask  of 
me?" 

Then  the  queen  told  him  all  the  fairies  had  foreseen  for 
Rosette,  and  asked  what  she  should  do,  and  the  hermit  an- 
swered that  she  must  shut  the  princess  up  in  a  tower  and 
never  let  her  come  out  of  it  again.  The  queen  thanked  and 
rewarded  him,  and  hastened  back  to  the  castle  to  tell  the 
king.     When  he  heard  the  news  he  had  a  great  tower  built 


as  quickly  as  possible,  and  there  the  princess  was  shut  up, 
and  the  king  and  queen  and  her  two  brothers  went  to  see  her 
every  day  that  she  might  not  be  dull.  The  eldest  brother 
was  called  "the  great  prince,"  and  the  second  "the  little 
prince."  They  loved  their  sister  dearly,  for  she  was  the 
sweetest,  prettiest  princess  who  was  ever  seen,  and  the  least 
little  smile  from  her  was  worth  more  than  a  hundred  pieces 
of  gold.  When  Rosette  was  fifteen  years  old  the  great  prince 
went  to  the  king  and  asked  if  it  would  not  soon  be  time  for 
her  to  be  married,  and  the  little  prince  put  the  same  question 
to  the  queen. 


THE   RED    FAIRY   BOOK.  93 

Their  majesties  were  amused  at  them  for  thinking  of  it, 
but  did  not  make  any  reply,  and  soon  after  both  the  king 
and  the  queen  were  taken  ill,  and  died  on  the  same  day. 
Everybody  was  sorry,  Rosette  especially,  and  all  the  bells 
in  the  kingdom  were  tolled. 

Then  all  the  dukes  and  counselors  put  the  great  prince 
upon  a  golden  throne,  and  crowned  him  with  a  diamond 
crown,  and  they  all  cried,  "  Long  live  the  king !  "  And  after 
that  there  was  nothing  but  feasting  and  rejoicing. 

The  new  king  and  his  brother  said  to  one  another: 

"Now  that  we  are  masters,  let  us  take  our  sister  out  of 
that  dull  tower  which  she  is  so  tired  of." 

They  had  only  to  go  across  the  garden  to  reach  the  tower, 
which  was  very  high,  and  stood  up  in  a  corner.  Rosette  was 
busy  at  her  embroidery,  but  when  she  saw  her  brothers  she 
got  up,  and  taking  the  king's  hand  cried: 

"Good  morning,  dear  brother.  Now  that  you  are  king, 
please  take  me  out  of  this  dull  tower,  for  I  am  so  tired  of  it." 

Then  she  began  to  cry,  but  the  king  kissed  her  and  told 
her  to  dry  her  tears,  as  that  was  just  what  they  had  come 
for,  to  take  her  out  of  the  tower  and  bring  her  to  their  beau- 
tiful castle,  and  the  prince  showed  her  the  pocketful  of 
sugar-plums  he  had  brought  for  her,  and  said: 

"  Make  haste,  and  let  us  get  away  from  this  ugly  tower, 
and  very  soon  the  king  will  arrange  a  grand  marriage  for 
you." 

When  Rosette  saw  the  beautiful  garden,  full  of  fruit  and 
flowers,  with  green  grass  and  sparkling  fountains,  she  was 
so  astonished  that  not  a  word  could  she  say,  for  she  had 
never  in  her  life  seen  anything  like  it  before.  She  looked 
about  her  and  ran  hither  and  thither  gathering  fruit  and 
flowers,  and  her  little  dog  Frisk,  who  was  bright  green  all 
over,  and  had  but  one  ear,  danced  before  her,  crying  "  Bow- 
wow-wow," and  turning  head  over  heels  in  the  most  en- 
chanting way. 

Everybody  was  amused  at  Frisk's  antics,  but  all  of  a  sud- 
den he  ran  away  into  a  little  wood,  and  the  princess  was 
following  him,  when,  to  her  great  delight,  she  saw  a  peacock, 
who  was  spreading  his  tail  in  the  sunshine.  Rosette  thought 
she  had  never  seen  anything  so  pretty.  She  could  not  take 
her  eyes  off  him,  and  there  she  stood  entranced  until  the 


94  THE    RED    FAIRY   BOOK. 

king  and  prince  came  up  and  asked  what  was  amusing  hei 
so  much.  She  showed  them  the  peacock,  and  asked  what  it 
was,  and  they  answered  that  it  was  a  bird  which  people  some- 
times ate. 

"  What !  "  said  the  princess,  "  do  they  dare  to  kill  that 
beautiful  creature  and  eat  it?  I  declare  that  I  will  never 
marry  anyone  but  the  king  of  the  peacocks,  and  when  I  am 
queen  I  will  take  very  good  care  that  nobody  eats  any  of 
my  subjects." 

At  this  the  king  was  very  much  astonished. 

"But,  little  sister,"  said  he,  "where  shall  we  find  the 
king  of  the  peacocks  ?  " 

"  Oh !  wherever  you  like,  sire,"  she  answered,  "  but  I  will 
never  marry  anyone  else." 

After  this  they  took  Rosette  to  the  beautiful  castle,  and 
the  peacock  was  brought  with  her,  and  told  to  walk  about  on 
the  terrace  outside  her  windows,  so  that  she  might  always  see 
him,  and  then  the  ladies  of  the  court  came  to  see  the  prin- 
cess, and  they  brought  her  beautitul  presents — dresses  and 
ribbons  and  sweetmeats,  diamonds  and  pearls  and  dolls  and 
embroidered  slippers,  and  she  was  so  well  brought  up,  and 
said,  "  Thank  you !  "  so  prettily,  and  was  so  gracious,  that 
everyone  went  away  delighted  with  her. 

Meanwhile  the  king  and  the  prince  were  considering  how 
they  should  find  the  king  of  the  peacocks,  if  there  was  such 
a  person  in  the  world.  And  first  of  all  they  had  a  portrait 
made  of  the  princess,  which  was  so  like  her  that  you  really 
would  not  have  been  surprised  if  it  had  spoken  to  you.  Then 
they  said  to  her : 

"  Since  you  will  not  marry  anyone  but  the  king  of  the 
peacocks,  we  are  going  out  together  into  the  wide  world  to 
search  for  him.  If  we  find  him  for  you  we  shall  be  very 
glad.  In  the  meantime,  mind  you  take  good  care  of  our 
kingdom." 

Rosette  thanked  him  for  all  the  trouble  they  were  taking 
on  her  account,  and  promised  to  take  great  care  of  the  king- 
dom, and  only  to  amuse  herself  by  looking  at  the  peacock, 
and  making  Frisk  dance  while  they  were  away. 

So  they  set  out  and  asked  everyone  they  met: 

"Do  you  know  the  king  of  the  peacocks?" 

But  the  answer  was  always,  "  No,  no." 


THE   RED    FAIRY    BOOK. 


95 


Then  they  went  on  and  on,  so  far  that  no  one  has  ever 
been  further,  and  at  last  they  came  to  the  kingdom  of  the 
cockchafers. 

They  had  never  before  seen  such  a  number  of  cockchafers, 
and  the  buzzing  was  so  loud  that  the  king  was  afraid  he 
should  be  deafened  by  it.    He  asked  the  most  distinguished- 


looking  cockchafer  they  met  if  he  knew  where  they  coitid 
find  the  king  of  the  peacocks. 

u  Sire,"  replied  the  cockchafer,  "  his  kingdom  is  thirty 
thousand  leagues  from  this ;  you  have  come  the  longest  way." 

"  And  how  do  you  know  that  ? "  said  the  king. 

"  Oh ! "  said  the  cockchafer,  "  we  all  know  you  very  well, 
since  we  spend  two  or  three  months  in  your  garden  every 
year." 

Thereupon  the  king  and  the  prince  made  great  friends 
with  him,  and  they  all  walked  arm  in  arm  and  dined  to- 
gether, and  afterward  the  cockchafer  showed  them  all  the 
curiosities  of  his  strange  country,  where  the  tiniest  green 
leaf  costs  a  gold  piece  and  more.  Then  they  set  out  again  to 
finish  their  journey,  and  this  time,  as  they  knew  the  way 


96  THE    RED    FAIRY   BOOK. 

they  were  not  long  upon  the  road.  It  was  easy  to  guess  that 
they  had  come  to  the  right  place,  for  they  saw  peacocks  in 
every  tree,  and  their  cries  could  be  heard  a  long  way  off. 

When  they  reached  the  city  they  found  it  full  of  men  and 
women  who  were  dressed  entirely  in  peacock's  feathers, 
which  were  evidently  thought  prettier  than  anything  else 

They  soon  met  the  king,  who  was  driving  about  in  a  beau- 
tiful little  golden  carriage  which  glittered  with  diamonds, 
and  was  drawn  at  full  speed  by  twelve  peacocks.  The  king 
and  prince  were  delighted  to  see  that  the  king  of  the  pea- 
cocks was  as  handsome  as  possible.  He  had  curly  golden 
hair  and  was  very  pale,  and  he  wore  a  crown  of  peacocks* 
feathers. 

When  he  saw  Rosette's  brothers  he  knew  at  once  that  they 
were  strangers,  and  stopping  his  carriage  he  sent  for  them 
to  speak  to  them.     When  they  had  greeted  him  they  said: 

"  Sire,  we  have  come  from  very  far  away  to  show  you  a 
beautiful  portrait." 

So  saying  they  drew  from  their  traveling  bag  the  picture 
of  Rosette. 

The  king  looked  at  it  in  silence  a  long  time,  but  at  last 
he  said: 

"  I  could  not  have  believed  that  there  was  such  a  beau- 
tiful princess  in  the  world !  " 

"  She  is  really  a  hundred  times  as  pretty  as  that,"  said 
her  brothers. 

"  I  think  you  must  be  making  fun  of  me,"  said  the  king 
of  the  peacocks. 

"  Sire,"  said  the  prince,  "  my  brother  is  a  king,  like  your- 
self. He  is  called  '  the  king,'  I  am  called  '  the  prince,' 
and  that  is  the  portrait  of  our  sister,  the  Princess  Rosette. 
We  have  come  to  ask  you  if  you  would  like  to  marry  her. 
She  is  as  good  as  she  is  beautiful,  and  we  will  give  her  a 
bushel  of  gold  pieces  for  her  dowry." 

"  Oh !  with  all  my  heart,"  replied  the  king,  "  and  I  will 
make  her  very  happy.  She  shall  have  whatever  she  likes, 
and  I  shall  love  her  dearly;  only  I  warn  you  that  if  she  is 
not  as  pretty  a»  you  have  told  me,  I  will  have  your  heads  cut 
off." 

vOh!  certainly,  we  quite  agree  to  that,"  said  the  brothers 
in  one  breath. 


THE    RED    FAIRY   BOOK.  97 

"  Very  well.  Off  with  you  into  prison,  and  stay  there  until 
the  princess  arrives,"  said  the  king  of  the  peacocks. 

And  the  princes  were  so  sure  that  Rosette  was  far  pret- 
tier than  her  portrait  that  they  went  without  a  murmur. 
They  were  very  kindly  treated,  and  that  they  might  not  feel 
dull  the  king  came  often  to  see  them.  As  for  Rosette's  por- 
trait, that  was  taken  up  to  the  palace,  and  the  king  did  noth- 
ing but  gaze  at  it  all  day  and  all  night. 

As  the  king  and  prince  had  to  stay  in  prison,  they  sent  a 
letter  to  the  princess  telling  her  to  pack  up  all  her  treasures 
as  quickly  as  possible,  and  come  to  them,  as  the  king  of  the 
peacocks  was  waiting  to  marry  her;  but  they  did  not  say 
that  they  were  in  prison,  for  fear  of  making  her  uneasy. 

When  Rosette  received  the  letter  she  was  so  delighted  that 
she  ran  about  telling  everyone  that  the  king  of  the  peacocks 
was  found,  and  she  was  going  to  marry  him. 

Guns  were  fired,  and  fireworks  let  off.  Everyone  had  as 
many  cakes  and  sweetmeats  as  he  wanted.  And  for  three 
days  everybody  who  came  to  see  the  princess  was  presented 
with  a  slice  of  bread  and  jam,  a  nightingale's  egg,  and  some 
hippocras.  After  having  thus  entertained  her  friends,  she 
distributed  her  dolls  among  them,  and  left  her  brother's 
kingdom  to  the  care  of  the  wisest  old  men  of  the  city,  telling 
them  to  take  charge  of  everything,  not  to  spend  any  money,' 
but  save  it  all  up  until  the  king  should  return,  and,  above 
all,  not  to  forget  to  feed  her  peacock.  Then  she  set  out,  only 
taking  with  her  her  nurse,  and  the  nurse's  daughter,  and  the 
little  green  dog,  Frisk. 

They  took  a  boat  and  put  out  to  sea,  carrying  with  them 
the  bushel  of  gold  pieces  and  enough  dresses  to  last  the  prin- 
cess ten  years  if  she  wore  two  every  day,  and  they  did  noth- 
ing but  laugh  and  sing.    The  nurse  asked  the  boatman : 

"  Can  you  take  us,  can  you  take  us  to  the  kingdom  of  the 
peacocks  ? " 

But  he  answered: 

"Oh,  no!  oh,  no!" 

Then  she  said: 

"  You  must  take  us,  you  must  take  us." 

And  he  answered : 

"Very  soon,  very  soon." 

Then  the  nurse  said: 


98  THE    RED    FAIRY   BOOK. 

"Will  you  take  us?  will  you  take  us?" 

And  the  boatman  answered: 

"  Yes,  yes." 

Then  she  whispered  in  his  ear: 

"  Do  you  want  to  make  your  fortune  ?  " 

And  he  said : 

"  Certainly,  I  do." 

"  I  can  tell  you  how  to  get  a  bag  of  gold,"  said  she. 

"  I  ask  nothing  better,"  said  the  boatman. 

"Well,"  said  the  nurse,  "to-night,  when  the  princess  is 
asleep,  you  must  help  me  to  throw  her  into  the  sea,  and  when 
she  is  drowned  I  will  put  her  beautiful  clothes  upon  my 
daughter,  and  we  will  take  her  to  the  king  of  the  peacocks, 
who  will  be  only  too  glad  to  marry  her,  and  as  your  reward 
you  shall  have  your  boat  full  of  diamonds." 

The  boatman  was  very  much  surprised  at  this  proposal, 
and  said: 

"  But  what  a  pity  to  drown  such  a  pretty  princess !  " 

However,  at  last,  the  nurse  persuaded  him  to  help  her, 
and  when  the  night  came  and  the  princess  was  fast  asleep 
as  usual,  with  Frisk  curled  up  on  his  own  cushion  at  the  foot 
of  her  bed,  the  wicked  nurse  fetched  the  boatman  and  her 
daughter,  and  between  them  they  picked  up  the  princess, 
feather  bed,  mattress,  pillows,  blankets,  and  all,  and  threw 
her  into  the  sea,  without  even  waking  her.  Now,  luckily, 
the  princess'  bed  was  entirely  stuffed  with  phoenix  feathers, 
which  are  very  rare,  and  have  the  property  of  always  float- 
ing upon  water,  so  Rosette  went  on  swimming  about  as  if 
she  had  been  in  a  boat.  After  awhile  she  began  to  feel 
very  cold,  and  turned  round  so  often  that  she  waked  Frisk, 
who  started  up,  and  having  a  very  good  nose,  smelled  the 
soles  and  herrings  so  close  to  him  that  he  began  to  bark.  He 
barked  so  long  and  so  loud  that  he  woke  all  the  other  fish, 
who  came  swimming  up  around  the  princess'  bed,  and  pok- 
ing at  it  with  their  heads.     As  for  her,  she  said  to  herself: 

"How  our  boat  does  rock  upon  the  water!  I  am  really 
glad  that  I  am  not  often  as  uncomfortable  as  I  have  been  to- 
night." 

The  wicked  nurse  and  the  boatman,  who  were  by  this  time 
quite  a  long  way  off,  heard  Frisk  barking,  and  said  to  each 
other : 


THE    RED    FAIRY   BOOK.  99 

"That  horrid  little  animal  and  his  mistress  arc  drinking 
our  health  in  sea  water  now.  Let  us  make  haste  to  land,  for 
we  must  be  quite  near  the  city  of  the  king  of  the  peacocks." 

The  king  had  sent  a  hundred  carriages  to  meet  them, 
drawn  by  every  kind  of  strange  animal.  There  were  lions, 
bears,  wolves,  stags,  horses,  buffaloes,  eagles,  and  peacocks. 
The  carriage  intended  for  the  Princess  Rosette  had  six  blue 
monkeys  which  could  turn  somersaults,  and  dance  on  a  tight- 


rope, and  do  many  other  charming  tricks.  Their  harness  was 
all  of  crimson  velvet  with  golden  buckles,  and  behind  the  car- 
riage walked  sixty  beautiful  ladies  chosen  by  the  king  to 
wait  upon  Rosette  and  amuse  her. 

The  nurse  had  taken  all  the  pains  imaginable  to  deck  out 
her  daughter.  She  put  on  her  Rosette's  prettiest  frock,  and 
covered  her  with  diamonds  from  head  to  foot.  But  she  was 
so  ugly  that  nothing  could  make  her  look  nice,  and,  what  was 
worse,  she  was  sulky  and  ill-tempered,  and  did  nothing  but 
grumble  all  the  time. 

When  she  stepped  from  the  boat  and  the  escort  sent  by  the 
king  of  the  peacocks  caught  sight  of  her  they  were  so  sur- 
prised that  they  could  not  say  a  single  word. 

"  Now  then,  look  alive,"  cried  the  false  princess.  "  If  you 
don't  bring  me  something  to  eat,  I  will  have  all  your  hears 
cut  off!" 


100  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

Then  they  whispered  one  to  another : 

"  Here's  a  pretty  state  of  things !  she  is  as  wicked  as  she 
is  ngly.  What  a  bride  for  our  poor  king !  She  certainly  was 
not  worth  bringing  from  the  other  end  of  the  world !  " 

But  she  went  on  ordering  them  all  about,  and  for  no  fault 
at  all  would  give  slaps  and  pinches  to  everyone  she  could 
reach. 

As  the  procession  was  so  long  it  advanced  but  slowly,  and 
the  nurse's  daughter  sat  up  in  her  carriage  trying  to  look 
like  a  queen.  But  the  peacocks,  who  were  seated  upon  every 
tree,  waiting  to  salute  her,  and  who  had  made  up  their  minds 
to  cry,  "  Long  live  our  beautiful  queen !  "  when  they  caught 
sight  of  the  false  bride  could  not  help  crying  instead: 

"  Oh !  how  ugly  she  is !  " 

Which  offended  her  so  much  that  she  said  to  the  guards : 

"  Make  haste  and  kill  all  these  insolent  peacocks  who  have 
dared  to  insult  me." 

But  the  peacocks  only  flew  away,  laughing  at  her. 

The  rogue  of  a  boatman,  who  noticed  all  this,  said  softly 
to  the  nurse: 

"This  is  a  bad  business  for  us,  gossip;  your  daughter 
ought  to  have  been  prettier." 

But  she  answered: 

"  Be  quiet,  stupid,  or  you  will  spoil  everything." 

Now  they  told  the  king  that  the  princess  was  approaching. 

"  Well,"  said  he,  "  did  her  brothers  tell  me  truly  ?  Is  she 
prettier  than  her  portrait?" 

"  Sire,"  they  answered,  "  if  she  were  as  pretty  that  would 
do  very  well." 

"  That's  true,"  said  the  king;  "I  for  one  will  be  quite  sat- 
isfied if  she  is.  Let  us  go  and  meet  her."  For  they  knew  by 
the  uproar  that  she  had  arrived,  but  they  could  not  tell  what 
all  the  shouting  was  about.  The  king  thought  he  could  hear 
the  words : 

"  How  ugly  she  is !  How  ugly  she  is !  "  and  he  fancied 
they  must  refer  to  some  dwarf  the  princess  was  bringing 
with  her.  It  never  occurred  to  him  that  they  could  apply  to 
the  bride  herself. 

The  Princess  Rosette's  portrait  was  carried  at  the  head  of 
the  procession,  and  after  it  walked  the  king  surrounded 
by  his  courtiers.     He  was  all  impatience  to  see  the  lovely 


THE   RED    FAIRY   B()0^.      j         •  !\  i  201 

princess,  but  when  he  caught  sight  of  the  nurse's  daughter 
he  was  furiously  angry,  and  would  not  advance  another  step. 
For  she  was  really  ugly  enough  to  have  frightened  anybody. 

"  What !  "  he  cried,  "  have  the  two  rascals  who  are  my  pris- 
oners dared  to  play  me  such  a  trick  as  this?  Do  they  pro- 
pose that  I  shall  marry  this  hideous  creature?  Let  her  be 
shut  up  in  my  great  tower  with  her  nurse  and  those  who 
brought  her  here;  and  as  for  them,  I  will  have  their  heads 
cut  off." 

Meanwhile,  the  king  and  the  prince,  who  knew  that  their 
sister  must  have  arrived,  had  made  themselves  smart  and 
sat  expecting  every  minute  to  be  summoned  to  greet  he/. 
So  when  the  jailer  came  with  soldiers  and  carried  them  down 
into  a  black  dungeon  which  swarmed  with  toads  and  bats, 
and  where  they  were  up  to  their  necks  in  water,  nobody  could 
have  been  more  surprised  and  dismayed  than  they  were. 

"  This  is  a  dismal  kind  of  wedding,"  they  said;  "what  can 
have  happened  that  we  should  be  treated  like  this?  They 
must  mean  to  kill  us." 

And  this  idea  annoyed  them  very  much.  Three  days 
passed  before  they  heard  any  news,  and  then  the  king  of  the 
peacocks  came  and  berated  them  through  a  hole  in  the  wall. 

"  You  have  called  yourselves  king  and  prince,"  he  cried, 
"  to  try  and  make  me  marry  your  sister,  but  you  are  nothing 
but  beggars,  not  worth  the  water  you  drink.  I  mean  to  make 
short  work  with  you,  and  the  sword  is  being  sharpened  that 
will  cut  off  your  heads !  " 

"  King  of  the  peacocks,"  answered  the  king  angrily,  "  you 
had  better  take  care  what  you  are  about.  I  am  as  good  a 
king  as  yourself,  and  have  a  splendid  kingdom,  and  robe» 
and  crowns,  and  plenty  of  good  red  gold  to  do  what  I  like 
with.  You  are  pleased  to  jest  about  having  our  heads  cut  off; 
perhaps  you  think  we  have  stolen  something  from  you  ?  " 

At  first  the  king  of  the  peacocks  was  taken  aback  by  this 
lK>ld  speech,  and  had  half  a  mind  to  send  them  all  away; 
but  his  prime  minister  declared  that  it  would  never  do  to  let 
such  a  trick  as  that  pass  unpunished,  everybody  would  laugh 
at  him;  so  the  accusation  was  drawn  up  against  them,  that 
they  were  impostors,  and  that  they  had  promised  the  king  a 
beautiful  princess  in  marriage,  who,  when  she  arrived,  proved 
to  be  an  ugly  peasant  girl. 


102  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

This  accusation  was  read  to  the  prisoners,  who  cried  out 
that  they  had  spoken  the  truth,  that  their  sister  was  indeed 
a  princess  more  beautiful  than  the  day,  and  that  there  was 
some  mystery  about  all  this  which  they  could  not  fathom. 
Therefore  they  demanded  seven  days  in  which  to  prove  their 
innocence.  The  king  of  the  peacocks  was  so  angry  that  he 
would  hardly  even  grant  them  this  favor,  but  at  last  he  was 
persuaded  to  do  so. 

While  all  this  was  going  on  at  court,  let  us  see  what  had 
been  happening  to  the  real  princess.  When  the  day  broke 
she  and  Frisk  were  equally  astonished  at  finding  themselves 
alone  upon  the  sea,  with  no  boat  and  no  one  to  help  them. 
The  princess  cried  and  cried,  until  even  the  fishes  were  sorry 
for  her. 

"  Alas !  "  she  said,  "  the  king  of  the  peacocks  must  have  or- 
dered me  to  be  thrown  into  the  sea  because  he  had  changed 
his  mind  and  did  not  want  to  marry  me.  But  how  strange 
of  him,  when  I  should  have  loved  him  so  much,  and  we  should 
have  been  so  happy  together !  " 

And  then  she  cried  harder  than  ever,  for  she  could  not 
help  still  loving  him.  So  for  two  days  they  floated  up  and 
down  the  sea,  wet  and  shivering  with  the  cold,  and  so  hungry 
that  when  the  princess  saw  some  oysters  she  caught  them, 
and  she  and  Frisk  both  ate  some,  though  they  didn't  like 
them  at  all.  When  night  came  the  princess  was  so  fright- 
ened that  she  said  to  Frisk: 

"  Oh !  Do  please  keep  on  barking  for  fear  the  soles  should 
come  and  eat  us  up !  " 

Now  it  happened  that  they  had  floated  close  in  to  the 
shore,  where  a  poor  old  man  lived  all  alone  in  a  little  cottage. 
When  he  heard  Frisk's  barking  he  thought  to  himself : 

"  There  must  have  been  a  shipwreck !  "  (for  no  dogs  ever 
passed  that  way  by  any  chance)  and  he  went  out  to  see  if  he 
could  be  of  any  use.  He  soon  saw  the  princess  and  Frisk 
floating  up  and  down,  and  Rosette,  stretching  out  her  hands 
to  him,  cried: 

"  Oh !  Good  old  man,  do  save  me,  or  I  shall  die  of  cold 
and  hunger !  " 

When  he  heard  her  cry  out  so  piteously  he  was  very  sorry 
for  her,  and  ran  back  into  his  hou«e  to  fetch  a  long  boat-hook. 
Then  he  waded  into  the  water  jp  to  his  chin,  and  after  be- 


THE    RED    FAIRY   BOOK. 


103 


ing  nearly  drowned  once  or  twice  he  at  last  succeeded  in 
getting  hold  of  the  princess'  bed  and  dragging  it  on  shore. 

Rosette  and  Frisk  were  joyful  enough  to  find  themselves 
once  more  on  dry  land,  and  the  princess  thanked  the  old 
man  heartily;  then,  wrapping  herself  up  in  her  blankets,  she 
daintily  picked  her  way  up  to  the  cottage  on  her  little  bare 
feet.  There  the  old  man  lighted  a  fire  of  straw,  and  then 
drew  from  an  old  box  his  wife's  dress  and  shoes,  which  the 
princess  put  on,  and  thus  roughly  clad  looked  as  charming 
as  possible,  and  Frisk  danced  his  very  best  to  amuse  her. 

The  old  man  saw  that  Rosette  must  be  some  great  lady,  for 


her  bed  coverings  were  all  of  satin  and  gold.  He  begged  that 
she  would  tell  him  all  her  history,  as  she  might  safely  trust 
him.  The  princess  told  him  everything,  weeping  bitterly 
again  at  the  thought  that  it  was  by  the  king's  orders  that 
she  had  been  thrown  overboard. 

"  And  now,  my  daughter,  what  is  to  be  done  ? "  said  the 
old  man.  "  You  are  a  great  princess,  accustomed  to  fare 
daintily,  and  I  have  nothing  to  offer  you  but  black  bread 
and  radishes,  which  will  not  suit  you  at  all.  Shall  I  go  and 
tell  the  king  of  the  peacocks  that  you  are  here?  If  he  sees 
you  he  will  certainly  wish  to  marry  you." 

"  Oh,  no ! "  cried  Rosette,  "  he  must  be  wicked,  since  he 
tried  to  drown  me.  Don't  let  us  tell  him,  but  if  you  have  a 
little  basket  give  it  to  me." 


104  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

The  old  man  gave  her  a  basket,  and  tying  it  around  Frisk's 
neck  she  said  to  him :  "  Go  and  find  out  the  best  cooking-pot 
in  the  town  and  bring  the  contents  to  me." 

Away  went  Frisk,  and  as  there  was  no  better  dinner  cook- 
ing in  all  the  town  than  the  king's,  he  adroitly  took  the  cover 
off  the  pot  and  brought  all  it  contained  to  the  princess,  who 
said: 

"  Now  go  back  to  the  pantry  and  bring  the  best  of  every- 
thing  you  find  there." 

So  Frisk  went  back  and  filled  his  basket  with  white  bread 
and  red  wine,  and  every  kind  of  sweetmeat,  until  it  was 
almost  too  heavy  for  him  to  carry. 

■  When  the  king  of  the  peacocks  wanted  his  dinner  there 
was  nothing  in  the  pot  and  nothing  in  the  pantry.  All 
the  courtiers  looked  at  one  another  in  dismay,  and  the  king 
was  terribly  cross. 

"  Oh,  well !  "  he  said,  "  if  there  is  no  dinner  I  cannot  dine, 
but  take  care  that  plenty  of  things  are  roasted  far  supper." 

When  evening  came  the  princess  said  to  Frisk: 

"  Go  into  the  town  and  find  out  the  best  kitchen,  and 
bring  me  all  the  nicest  morsels  that  are  being  roasted  upon 
the  spit." 

Frisk  did  as  he  was  told,  and  as  he  knew  of  no  better 
kitchen  than  the  king's,  he  went  in  softly,  and  when  the 
cook's  baok  was  turned  took  everything  that  was  upon  the 
spit.  As  it  happened  it  was  all  done  to  a  turn,  and  looked 
so  good  that  it  made  him  hungry  only  to  see  it.  He  carried 
his  basket  to  the  princess,  who  at  once  sent  him  back  to  the 
pantry  to  bring  all  the  tarts  and  sugar-plums  that  had  been 
prepared  for  the  king's  supper. 

The  king,  as  he  had  had  no  dinner,  was  very  hungry  and 
wanted  his  supper  early,  but  when  he  asked  for  it,  lo,  and 
behold,  it  was  all  gone,  and  he  had  to  go  to  bed  half-starved 
and  in  a  terrible  temper.  The  next  day  the  same  thing  hap- 
pened, and  the  next,  so  that  for  three  days  the  king  got  noth- 
ing at  all  to  eat,  because  just  when  the  dinner  or  supper 
was  ready  to  be  served  it  mysteriously  disappeared.  At  last 
the  prime  minister  began  to  be  afraid  that  the  king  would 
be  starved  to  death,  so  he  resolved  to  hide  himself  in  some 
dark  corner  of  the  kitchen,  and  never  take  his  eyes  off  the 
cooking  pot.    His  surprise  was  great  when  he  presently  saw 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  105 

a  little  green  dog  with  one  ear  slip  softly  into  the  kitchen, 
uncover  the  pot,  transfer  all  its  contents  to  his  basket,  and 
run  off.  The  prime  minister  followed  hastily  and  tracked 
him  all  through  the  town  to  the  cottage  of  the  good  old  man ; 
then  he  ran  back  to  the  king  and  told  that  he  had  found  out 
where  all  his  dinners  and  suppers  went.  The  king,  who  was 
very  much  astonished,  said  he  would  like  to  go  and  see  for 
himself.  So  he  set  out,  accompanied  by  the  prime  minister 
and  a  guard  of  archers,  and  arrived  just  in  time  to  find  the 
old  man  and  the  princess  finishing  his  dinner. 

The  king  ordered  that  they  should  be  seized  and  bound 
with  ropes,  and  Frisk  also. 

When  they  were  brought  back  to  the  palace  someone  told 
}he  king,  who  said: 

"  To-day  is  the  last  day  of  the  respite  granted  to  those  im- 
postors; they  shall  have  their  heads  cut  off  at  the  same  time 
hs  these  stealers  of  my  dinner."  Then  the  old  man  went 
down  on  his  knees  before  the  king  and  begged  for  time  to 
tell  him  everything.  While  he  spoke  the  king  looked  for  the 
first  time  attentively  at  the  princess,  because  he  was  sorry 
to  see  how  she  cried,  and  when  he  heard  the  old  man  saying 
that  her  name  was  Rosette,  and  that  she  had  been  treach- 
erously thrown  into  the  sea,  he  turned  head  over  heels  three 
times  without  stopping,  in  spite  of  being  quite  weak  from 
hunger,  and  ran  to  embrace  her,  and  untied  the  ropes  which 
bound  her  with  his  own  hands,  declaring  that  he  loved  her 
with  all  his  heart. 

Messengers  were  sent  to  bring  the  princes  out  of  prison, 
and  they  came  very  sadly,  believing  that  they  were  to  be  ex- 
ecuted at  once;  the  nurse  and  her  daughter  and  the  boat- 
man were  brought  also.  As  soon  as  they  came  in  Rosette 
ran  to  embrace  her  brothers,  while  the  traitors  threw  them- 
selves down  before  her  and  begged  for  mercy.  The  king  and 
the  princess  were  so  happy  that  they  freely  forgave  them, 
and  as  for  the  good  old  man  he  was  splendidly  rewarded,  and 
spent  the  rest  of  his  days  in  the  palace.  The  king  of  the 
peacocks  made  ample  amends  to  the  king  and  prince  for  the 
way  in  which  they  had  been  treated,  and  did  everything  in 
his  power  to  show  how  sorry  he  was. 

The  nurse  restored  to  Rosette  all  her  dresses  and  jewels, 
and  the  bushel  of  gold  pieces;  the  wedding  was  held  at  once, 


106  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

and  they  all  lived  happily  ever  after — even  to  Frisk,  who 
enjoyed  the  greatest  luxury,  and  never  had  anything  worse 
than  the  wing  of  a  partridge  for  his  dinner  all  the  rest  of 
ihis  life. 


THE  ENCHANTED  PIG  * 

Once  upon  a  time  there  lived  a  king  who  had  three 
-daughters.  Now  it  happened  that  he  had  to  go  out  to  bat- 
tle, so  he  called  his  daughters  and  said  to  them: 

"  My  dear  children,  I  am  obliged  to  go  to  the  wars.  The 
enemy  is  approaching  us  with  a  large  army.  It  is  a  great 
grief  to  me  to  leave  you  all.  During  my  absence  take  care 
of  yourselves  and  be  good  girls;  behave  well  and  look  after 
everything  in  the  house.  You  may  walk  in  the  garden  and 
you  may  go  into  all  the  rooms  in  the  palace,  except  the  room 
at  the  back  in  the  right-hand  corner;  into  that  you  must  not 
enter,  for  harm  would  befall  you." 

"You  may  keep  your  mind  easy,  father,"  they  replied. 
*  We  have  never  been  disobedient  to  you.  Go  in  peace,  and 
may  Heaven  give  you  a  glorious  victory !  " 

When  everything  was  ready  for  his  departure  the  king 
gave  them  the  keys  of  all  the  rooms  and  reminded  them  once 
more  of  what  he  had  said.  His  daughters  kissed  his  hands 
with  tears  in  their  eyes,  and  wished  him  prosperity,  and  he 
gave  the  eldest  the  keys. 

Now  when  the  girls  found  themselves  alone  they  felt  so 
sad  and  dull  they  did  not  know  what  to  do.  So,  to  pass  the 
time,  they  decided  to  work  for  part  of  the  day,  to  read  for 
part  of  the  day,  and  to  enjoy  themselves  in  the  garden  for 
part  of  the  day.  As  long  as  they  did  this  all  went  well  with 
them.  But  this  happy  state  of  things  did  not  last  long. 
Every  day  they  grew  more  and  more  curious,  and  you  will 
see  what  the  end  of  that  was. 

"  Sisters,"  said  the  eldest  princess,  "  all  day  long  we  sew, 
spin,  and  read.  We  have  been  several  days  quite  alone, 
and  there  is  no  corner  of  the  garden  we  have  not  explored. 
We  have  beenv  in  all  the  rooms  of  our  father's  palace  and 
have  admired  the  rich  and  beautiful  furniture:  why  should 

*  Kumanische  Marchen  iibersetzt  von  Nite  Krenmitz. 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  107 

we  not  go  into  the  room  that  our  father  forbade  us  to 
enter?" 

"  Sister,"  said  the  youngest,  "  I  cannot  think  how  you  can 
tempt  us  to  break  our  father's  command.  When  he  told  us 
not  to  go  into  that  room  he  must  have  known  what  he  was 
saying,  and  have  had  good  reason  for  saying  it." 

"  Surely  the  sky  won't  fall  about  our  heads  if  we  do  go  in," 
said  the  second  princess.  "  Dragons  and  such  like  monsters 
that  will  devour  us  will  not  be  hidden  in  the  room.  And  how 
will  our  father  ever  find  out  that  we  have  gone  in  ? " 

While  they  were  speaking  thus,  encouraging  each  other, 
they  had  reached  the  room ;  the  eldest  fitted  the  key  into  the 
lock,  and  snap !  the  door  stood  open. 

The  three  girls  entered,  and  what  do  you  think  they  saw? 

The  room  was  quite  empty,  and  without  any  ornament,  but 
in  the  middle  stood  a  large  table,  with  a  gorgeous  cloth,  and 
on  it  lay  a  big  open  book. 

Now  the  princesses  were  curious  to  know  what  was  writ- 
ten in  the  book,  especially  the  eldest,  and  this  is  what  sh© 
read: 

"  The  eldest  daughter  of  this  king  will  marry  a  prince 
from  the  east." 

Then  the  second  girl  stepped  forward,  and  turning  over 
the  page  she  read: 

"  The  second  daughter  of  this  king  will  marry  a  prince 
from  the  west." 

The  girls  were  delighted,  and  laughed  and  teased  each 
other. 

But  the  youngest  princess  did  not  want  to  go  near  the 
table  or  to  open  the  book.  Her  elder  sisters,  however,  left 
her  no  peace,  and  will  she,  nill  she,  they  dragged  her  up  to 
the  table,  and  in  fear  and  trembling  she  turned  over  the 
page  and  read: 

"  The  youngest  daughter  of  this  king  will  be  married  to 
a  pig  from  the  north." 

Now  if  a  thunderbolt  had  fallen  upon  her  from  heaven 
it  would  not  have  frightened  her  more. 

She  almost  died  of  misery,  and  if  her  sisters  had  not  held 
her  up,  she  would  have  sunk  to  the  ground  and  cut  her  head 
open. 

When  she  came  out  of  the  fainting  fit  into  which   she 


108  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

had  fallen  in  her  terror,  her  sisters  tried  to  comfort  her,  say- 
ing : 

"How  can  you  believe  such  nonsense?  When  did  it  ever 
happen  that  a  king's  daughter  married  a  pig  ? " 

"  What  a  baby  you  are !  "  said  the  other  sister ;  "  has  not 
our  father  enough  soldiers  to  protect  you,  even  if  the  dis- 
gusting creature  did  come  to  woo  you  ? " 

The  youngest  princess  would  fain  have  let  herself  be  con- 
vinced by  her  sister's  words,  and  have  believed  what  they 
said,  but  her  heart  was  heavy.  Her  thoughts  kept  turning  to 
the  book,  in  which  stood  written  that  great  happiness  waited 
her  sisters,  but  that  a  fate  was  in  store  for  her  such  as  had 
never  before  been  known  in  the  world. 

Besides,  the  thought  weighed  on  her  heart  that  she  had 
been  guilty  of  disobeying  her  father.  She  began  to  get 
quite  ill,  and  in  a  few  days  she  was  so  changed  that  it  was 
difficult  to  recognize  her;  formerly  she  had  been  rosy  and 
merry,  but  now  she  was  pale,  and  nothing  gave  her  any 
pleasure.  She  gave  up  playing  with  her  sisters  in  the  gar- 
den, ceased  to  gather  flowers  to  put  in  her  hair,  and  never 
sang  when  they  sat  together  at  their  spinning  and  sewing. 

In  the  meantime  the  king  won  a  great  victory,  and  having 
completely  defeated  and  driven  off  the  enemy,  he  hurried 
home  to  his  daughters,  to  whom  his  thoughts  had  constantly 
turned.  Everyone  went  out  to  meet  him  with  cymbals  and 
fifes  and  drums,  and  there  was  great  rejoicing  over  his  vic- 
torious return.  The  king's  first  act  on  reaching  home  was 
to  thank  heaven  for  the  victory  he  had  gained  over  the  ene- 
mies who  had  risen  against  him.  He  then  entered  his  palace 
and  the  three  princesses  stepped  forward  to  meet  him.  His 
joy  was  great  when  he  saw  that  they  were  all  well,  for  the 
youngest  did  her  best  not  to  appear  sad. 

In  spite  of  this,  however,  it  was  not  long  before  the  king 
noticed  that  his  third  daughter  was  getting  very  thin  and 
sad-looking.  And  all  of  a  sudden  he  felt  as  if  a  hot  iron 
were  entering  his  sou',  for  it  flashed  through  his  mind  that 
she  had  disobeyed  his  word.  He  felt  sure  he  was  right;  but 
to  be  quite  certain  hf  called  his  daughters  to  him,  questioned 
them,  and  ordered  them  to  speak  the  truth.  They  confessed 
everything,  but  took  good  care  not  to  say  which  had  led  the 
other  two  into  temptation. 


THE    RED    FAIRY    BOOK. 


109 


The  king  was  so  distressed  when  he  heard  it  that  he  was 
almost  overcome  by  grief.  But  he  took  heart  and  tried  to 
comfort  his  daughters,  who  looked  frightened  to  death.  He 
saw  that  what  had  happened  had  happened,  and  that  a  thou- 
sand words  would  not  alter  matters  by  a  hair's-breadth. 

Well,  these  events  had  almost  been  forgotten  when  one  fine 
day  a  prince  from  the  east  appeared  at  the  court  and  asked 
the  king  for  the  hand  of  his  eldest  daughter.  The  king 
gladly  gave  his  consent.  A  great  wedding  banquet  was  pre- 
pared, and  after  three  days  of  feasting  the  happy  pair  were 
accompanied  to  the  frontier  with  much  ceremony  and  re- 
joicing. 

After  some  time  the  same  thing  befell  the  second  daugh- 
ter, who  was  wooed  and  won  by  a  prince  from  the  west. 

Now  when  the  young  princess  saw  that  everything  fell  out 


exactly  as  had  been  written  in  the  book,  she  grew  very  sad. 
She  refused  to  eat,  and  would  not  put  on  her  fine  clothes  nor 
go  out  walking,  and  declared  that  she  would  rather  die  than 
become  a  laughing-stock  to  the  world.  But  the  king  would 
not  allow  her  to  do  anything  so  wrong,,  and  he  comforted 
her  in  all  possible  ways. 

So  the  time  passed,  till,  lo,  and  behold !  one  fine  day  an 
enormous  pig  from  the  north  walked  into  the  palace,  and  go* 


110  THE   RED    FAIRY   BOOT 

ing  straight  up  to  the  king  said,  "  Hail,  oh  king !  May  your 
life  be  as  prosperous  and  bright  as  sunrise  on  a  clear 
day!" 

"  I  am  glad  to  see  you  well,  friend,"  answered  the  king, 
"  but  what  wind  has  brought  you  hither  ? " 

"  I  come  a-wooing,"  replied  the  pig. 

Now  the  king  was  astonished  to  hear  so  fine  a  speech  from 
a  pig,  and  at  once  it  occurred  to  him  that  something  strange 
was  the  matter.  He  would  gladly  have  turned  the  pig's 
thoughts  in  another  direction,  as  he  did  not  wish  to  give  him 
the  princess  for  a  wife;  but  when  he  heard  that  the  court 
and  the  whole  street  were  full  of  all  the  pigs  in  the  world,  he 
saw  that  there  was  no  escape,  and  that  he  must  give  his  con- 
sent. The  pig  was  not  satisfied  with  mere  promises,  but  in- 
sisted that  the  wedding  should  take  place  within  a  week,  and 
would  not  go  away  until  the  king  had  sworn  a  royal  oath 
upon  it. 

The  king  then  sent  for  his  daughter  and  advised  her  to 
submit  to  fate,  as  there  was  nothing  else  to  be  done.  And  he 
added : 

"  My  child,  the  words  and  whole  behavior  of  this  pig  are 
quite  unlike  those  of  other  pigs.  I  do  not  myself  believe 
that  he  always  was  a  pig.  Depend  upon  it,  some  magic  or 
witchcraft  has  been  at  work.  Obey  him  and  do  everything 
that  he  wishes,  and  I  feel  sure  that  heaven  will  shortly  send 
you  release." 

"  If  you  wish  me  to  do  this,  dear  father,  I  will  do  it,"  re- 
plied the  girl. 

In  the  meantime  the  wedding-day  drew  near.  After  the 
marriage,  the  pig  and  his  bride  set  out  for  his  home  in  one  of 
the  royal  carriages.  On  the  way  they  passed  a  great  bog,  and 
the  pig  ordered  the  carriage  to  stop,  and  got  out  and  rolled 
about  in  the  mire  till  he  was  covered  with  mud  from  head 
to  foot ;  then  he  got  back  into  the  carriage  and  told  his  wife 
to  kiss  him.  What  was  the  poor  girl  to  do  ?  She  bethought 
herself  of  her  father's  words,  and  pulling  out  her  pocket 
handkerchief  she  gently  wiped  the  pig's  snout  and  kissed  it. 

By  the  time  they  reached  the  pig's  dwelling,  which  stood 
in  a  thick  wood,  it  was  quite  dark.  They  sat  down  quietly 
for  a  while  as  they  were  tired  after  their  drive;  then  they 
had  supper  together  and  lay  down  to  rest.    During  the  night 


THE  RED  FAIKY  BOOK.  Ill 

the  princess  noticed  that  the  pig  had  changed  into  a  man. 
She  was  not  a  little  surprised,  but  remembering  her  father's 
words,  she  took  courage,  determined  to  wait  and  see  what 
would  happen. 

And  now  she  noticed  that  every  night  the  pig  became  a 
man,  and  every  morning  he  was  changed  into  a  pig  before 
she  awoke.  This  happened  several  nights  running,  and  the. 
princess  could  not  understand  it  at  all.  Clearly  her  hus- 
band must  be  bewitched.  In  time  she  grew  quite  fond  of 
him,  he  was  so  kind  and  gentle. 

One  fine  day  as  she  was  sitting  alone  she  saw  an  old  witch 
go  past.  She  felt  quite  excited,  as  it  was  so  long  since  she 
had  seen  a  human  being,  and  she  called  out  to  the  old  woman- 
to  come  and  talk  to  her.  Among  other  things  the  witch  told 
her  that  she  understood  all  magic  arts,  and  that  she  could 
foretell  the  future  and  knew  the  healing  powers  of  herbs 
and  plants,    i     e 

"  I  shall  be  grateful  to  you  all  my  life,  old  dame,"  said  the 
princess,  "if  you  will  tell  me  what  is  the  matter  with  my 
husband.  Why  is  he  a  pig  by  day  and  a  human  being  by 
night?" 

"  I  was  just  going  to  tell  you  that  one  thing,  my  dear,  to* 
show  you  what  a  good  fortune-teller  I  am.  If  you  like,  I 
will  give  you  an  herb  to  break  the  spell." 

"  If  you  will  only  give  it  to  me,"  said  the  princess,  "  I  will 
give  you  anything  you  choose  to  ask  for,  for  I  cannot  bear 
to  see  him  in  this  state." 

"Here,  then,  my  dear  child,"  said  the  witch,  "take  this 
thread,  but  do  not  let  him  know  about  it,  for  if  he  did  it 
would  lose  its  healing  power.  At  night,  when  he  is  asleen. 
you  must  get  up  very  quietly  and  fasten  the  thread  round 
his  left  foot  as  firmly  as  possible;  and  you  will  see  in  the 
morning  he  will  not  have  changed  back  into  a  pig,  but  will 
still  be  a  man.  I  do  not  want  any  reward.  I  shall  be  suffi- 
ciently repaid  by  knowing  that  you  are  happy.  It  almost 
breaks  my  heart  to  think  of  all  you  have  suffered,  and  I  only 
wish  I  had  known  it  sooner,  as  I  should  have  come  to  your 
rescue  at  once." 

When  the  old  witch  had  gone  away  the  princess  hid  the 
thread  verv  carefully,  and  at  mVM  she  g^t  nn  ouietlv.  and 
with  a  beating  heart  she  bound  the  thread  round  her  bus* 


112  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

band's  foot.  Just  as  she  was  pulling  the  knot  tight  there  was 
a  crack  and  the  thread  broke,  for  it  was  rotten. 

Her  husband  awoke  with  a  start,  and  said  to  her,  "  Un- 
happy woman,  what  have  you  done?  Three  days  more  and 
this  unholy  spell  would  have  fallen  from  me,  and  now,  who 
knows  how  long  I  may  have  to  go  about  in  this  disgusting 
shape?  I  must  leave  you  at  once  and  we  will  not  meet 
again  until  you  have  worn  out  three  pairs  of  iron  shoes  and 
blunted  a  steel  staff  in  your  search  for  me."  So  saying,  he 
disappeared. 

Now,  when  the  princess  was  left  alone  she  began  to  weep 
and  moan  in  a  way  that  was  pitiful  to  hear;  but  when  she 
saw  that  her  tears  and  groans  did  her  no  good  she  got  up, 
determined  to  go  wherever  fate  should  lead  her. 

On  reaching  a  town  the  first  thing  she  did  was  to  order 
three  pairs  of  iron  sandals  and  a  steel  staff,  and  having  made 
these  preparations  for  her  journey  she  set  out  in  search  of 
her  husband.  On  and  on  she  wandered  over  nine  seas  and 
across  nine  continents;  through  forests  with  trees  whose 
stems  were  as  thick  as  beer  barrels;  stumbling  and  knock- 
ing herself  against  the  fallen  branches,  then  picking  herself 
up  and  going  on;  the  boughs  of  the  trees  hit  her  face,  and 
the  shrubs  tore  her  hands,  but  on  she  went,  and  never  looked 
back.  At  last,  wearied  with  her  long  journey  and  worn  out 
and  overcome  with  sorrow,  but  still  with  hope  at  her  heart, 
she  reached  a  house. 

Now  who  do  you  think  lived  there  ?    The  moon. 

The  princess  knocked  at  the  door  and  begged  to  be  let  in 
that  she  might  rest  a  little.  The  mother  of  the  moon,  when 
she  saw  her  sad  plight,  felt  a  great  pity  for  her,  and  took  her 
in  and  nursed  and  tended  her.  And  while  she  was  here  the 
princess  had  a  little  baby. 

One  day  the  mother  of  the  moon  asked  her: 

"How  was  it  possible  for  you,  a  mortal,  to  get  hither  to 
the  house  of  the  moon  ? " 

Then  the  poor  princess  told  her  all  that  happened  to  her, 
and  added :  "  I  shall  always  be  thankful  to  heaven  for  lead- 
ing me  hither,  and  grateful  to  you  that  you  took  pity  on  me 
and  on  my  baby,  and  did  not  leave  us  to  die.  Now  I  beg  one 
last  favor  of  you;  can  your  daughter,  the  moon,  tell  me 
where  my  husband  is  ?  " 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  113 

"  She  cannot  tell  yon  that,  my  child,"  replied  the  goddess, 
"  but  if  you  will  travel  toward  the  east,  until  you  reach  the 
dwelling  of  the  sun,  he  may  be  able  to  tell  you  something." 

Then  she  gave  the  princess  a  roast  chicken  to  eat,  and 
warned  her  to  be  very  careful  not  to  lose  any  of  the  bones, 
because  they  might  be  of  great  use  to  her. 

When  the  princess  had  thanked  her  once  more  for  her  hos- 
pitality and  for  her  good  advice,  and  had  thrown  away  one 
pair  of  shoes  that  were  worn  out,  and  had  put  on  a  second 
pair,  she  tied  up  the  chicken  bones  in  a  bundle,  and  taking 
her  baby  in  her  arms  and  her  staff  in  her  hand,  she  set  out 
once  more  on  her  wanderings. 

On  and  on  and  on  she  went  across  bare  sandy  deserts, 
where  the  roads  were  so  heavy  that  for  every  two  steps  she 
took  forward  she  fell  back  one;  but  she  struggled  on  till  she 
had  passed  these  dreary  plains;  next  she  crossed  high,  rocky 
mountains,  jumping  from  crag  to  crag  and  from  peak  to 
peak.  Sometimes  she  would  rest  for  a  little  on  a  mountain, 
and  then  start  afresh  always  further  and  further  on.  She 
had  to  cross  swamps  and  to  scale  mountain  peaks  covered 
with  flints,  so  that  her  feet  and  knees  and  elbows  were  all  torn 
and  bleeding,  and  sometimes  she  came  to  a  precipice  across 
which  she  could  not  jump,  and  she  had  to  crawl  round  on 
hands  and  knees,  helping  herself  along  with  her  staff.  At 
length,  wearied  to  death,  she  reached  the  palace  in  which 
the  sun  lived.  She  knocked  and  begged  for  admission.  The 
mother  of  the  sun  opened  the  door  and  was  astonished  at  be- 
holding a  mortal  from  the  distant  earthly  shores,  and  wept 
with  pity  when  she  heard  of  all  she  had  suffered.  Then,  hav- 
ing promised  to  ask  her  son  about  the  princess's  husband,  she 
hid  her  in  the  cellar,  so  that  the  sun  might  notice  nothing 
on  his  return  home,  for  he  was  always  in  a  bad  temper  when 
he  came  in  at  night. 

The  next  day  the  princess  feared  that  things  would  not 
go  well  with  her,  for  the  sun  had  noticed  that  someone  from 
the  other  world  had  been  in  the  palace.  But  the  mother  had 
soothed  him  with  soft  words,  assuring  him  that  this  was  not 
so.  So  the  princess  took  heart  when  she  saw  how  kindly 
she  was  treated,  and  asked: 

"  But  how  in  the  world  is  it  possible  for  the  sun  to  be 
angry?    He  is  so  beautiful  and  so  good  to  mortals." 


114 


THE    RED    FAIRY    BOOK. 


"  This  is  how  it  happens,"  replied  the  sun's  mother.  "  In 
the  morning  when  he  stands  at  the  gates  of  paradise  he  is 
happy,  and  smiles  on  the  whole  world,  but  during  the  day  he 
gets  cross  because  he  sees  all  the  evil  deeds  of  men,  and  that 
is  why  his  heat  becomes  so  scorching;  but  in  the  evening  he 
is  both  sad  and  angry,  for  he  stands  at  the  gates  of  death; 
that  is  his  usual  course.     From  there  he  comes  back  here." 

She  then  told  the  princess  that  she  had  asked  about  her 
husband,  but  that  her  son  had  replied  that  he  knew  nothing 
about  him,  and  that  her  only  hope  was  to  go  and  inquire  of 
the  wind. 

Before  the  princess  left  the  mother  of  the  sun  gave  her 
a  roast  chicken  to  eat,  and  advised  her  to  take  great  care  of 

the  bones,  which  she  did, 
wrapping  them  up  in  a  bun- 
dle. She  then  threw  away 
her  second  pair  of  shoes, 
which  were  quite  worn  out, 
and  with  her  child  on  her 
arm  and  her  staff  in  her 
hand,  she  set  forth  on  her 
way  to  the  wind. 

In  these  wanderings  she 
met  with  even  greater  diffi- 
culties than  before,  for  she 
came  upon  one  mountain  of 
flints  after  another,  out  of 
which  tongues  of  fire  would 
flame  up ;  she  passed  through 
woods  which  had  never  been 
trodden  by  human  foot,  and 
had  to  cross  fields  of  ice  and 
avalanches  of  snow.  The 
poor  woman  nearly  died  of 
these  hardships,  but  she  kept  a  brave  heart,  and  at  length  she 
reached  an  enormous  cave  in  the  side  of  the  mountain.  This 
was  where  the  wind  lived.  There  was  a  little  door  in  the  rail- 
ing in  front  of  the  cave,  and  here  the  princess  knocked  and 
begged  for  admission.  The  mother  of  the  wind  had  pity  on 
her  and  took  her  in,  that  she  might  rest  a  little.  Here,  too, 
she  was  hidden  away,  so  that  the  wind  might  not  notice  her. 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  115 

The  next  morning  the  mother  of  the  wind  told  her  that 
her  husband  was  living  in  a  thick  wood,  so  thick  that  no  ax 
had  been  able  to  cut  a  way  through  it ;  here  he  had  built  him- 
self a  sort  of  house  by  placing  trunks  of  trees  together  and 
fastening  them  with  withes,  and  here  he  lived  alone,  shun- 
ning human  kind. 

After  the  mother  of  the  wind  had  given  the  princess  a 
chicken  to  eat,  and  had  warned  her  to  take  care  of  the  bones, 
she  advised  her  to  go  by  the  Milky  Way,  which  at  night  lies 
across  the  sky,  and  to  wander  on  till  she  reached  her  goal. 

Having  thanked  the  old  woman  with  tears  in  her  eyes  for 
her  hospitality,  and  for  the  good  news  she  had  given  her,  the 
princess  set  out  on  her  journey  and  rested  neither  night  nor 
day,  so  great  was  her  longing  to  see  her  husband  again.  On 
and  on  she  walked  until  her  last  pair  of  shoes  fell  in  pieces. 
So  she  threw  them  away,  and  went  on  with  bare  feet,  not 
heeding  the  bogs  nor  the  thorns  that  wounded  her  nor  the 
stones  that  bruised  her  At  last  she  reached  a  beautiful 
green  meadow  on  the  edge  of  a  wood.  Her  heart  was  cheered 
by  the  sight  of  the  flowers  and  the  soft  cool  grass,  and  she  sat 
down  and  rested  for  a  little.  But  hearing  the  birds  chirping 
to  their  mates  among  the  trees  made  her  think  with  long- 
ing of  her  husband,  and  she  wept  bitterly,  and  taking  her 
child  in  her  arms,  and  her  bundle  of  chicken  bones  on  her 
shoulder,  she  entered  the  wood. 

For  three  days  and  three  nights  she  struggled  through  it, 
but  could  find  nothing.  She  was  quite  worn  out  with  weari- 
ness and  hunger,  and  even  her  staff  was  no  further  help  to 
her,  for  in  her  many  wanderings  it  had  become  quite  blunted. 
She  almost  gave  up  in  despair,  but  made  one  last  great 
effort,  and  suddenly  in  a  thicket  she  came  upon  the  sort  of 
house  that  the  mother  of  the  wind  had  described.  It  had  no 
windows,  and  the  door  was  up  in  the  roof.  Round  the  house 
she  went  in  search  of  steps,  but  could  find  none.  What  was 
she  to  do?  How  was  she  to  get  in?  She  thought  and 
thought,  and  tried  in  vain  to  climb  up  to  the  door.  Then 
suddenly  she  bethought  her  of  the  chicken  bones  that  she 
had  dragged  all  that  weary  way,  and  she  said  to  herself: 
"  They  would  not  all  have  told  me  to  take  such  good  care  of 
these  bones  if  they  had  not  had  some  reason  for  doing  so. 
Perhaps  now,  in  my  hour  of  need,  they  may  be  of  use  to  me." 


116 


THE   RED    FAIRY    BOOK. 


So  she  took  the  bones  out  of  her  bundle,  and  having 
thought  for  a  moment  she  placed  the  two  ends  together.  To 
her  surprise  they  stuck  tight ;  then  she  added  the  other  bones 
till  she  had  two  long  poles  the  height  of  the  house ;  these  she 
placed  against  the  wall  at  a  distance  of  a  yard  from  one  an- 
other. Across  them  she  placed  the  other  bones,  piece  by 
piece,  like  the  steps  of  a  ladder.  As  soon  as  one  step  was 
finished  she  stood  upon  it  and  made  the  next  one,  and  then 
the  next,  till  she  was  close  to  the  door.  But  just  as  she  got 
near  the  top  she  noticed  that  there  were  no  bones  left  for 
the  last  rung  of  the  ladder.  What  was  she  to  do?  Without 
that  last  step  the  whole  ladder  was  useless.  She  must  have 
lost  one  of  the  bones.  Then  sud- 
denly an  idea  came  to  her.  Taking 
a  knife  she  chopped  off  her  little 
finger,  and  placing  it  on  the  last 
step,  it  stuck  as  the  bones  had 
done.  The  ladder  was  complete, 
and  with  her  child  on  her  arm  she 
entered  the  door  of  the  house. 
Here  she  found  everything  in  per- 
fect order.  Having  taken  some 
food,  ghe  laid  the  child  down  to 
sleep  in  a  trough,  and  sat  down 
herself  to  rest. 

When  her  husband,  the  pig, 
came  back  to  his  house,  he  was 
startled  by  what  he  saw.  At  first 
he  could  not  believe  his  eyes,  and 
stared  at  the  ladder  of  bones,  and 
at  the  little  finger  on  top  of  it.  He 
felt  that  some  fresh  magic  must  be 
at  work,  and  in  his  terror  he  almost 
turned  away  from  the  house;  but 
then  a  better  idea  came  to  him  and 
he  changed  himself  into  a  dove,  so  that  no  witchcraft  could 
have  power  over  him.  and  flew  into  the  room  with  out  touch- 
ing the  ladder.  Here  he  found  a  woman  rocking  a  child.  At 
the  sight  of  her,  looking  so  changed  by  all  that  she  had  suf- 
fered for  his  sake,  his  heart  was  moved  by  such  love  and 
pity  that  he  suddenly  became  a  man. 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  117 

The  princess  stood  up  when  she  saw  him,  and  her  heart 
beat  with  fear,  for  she  did  not  know  him.  But  when  he  had 
told  her  who  he  was,  in  her  great  joy  she  forgot  all  her  suf- 
ferings, and  they  seemed  as  nothing  to  her.  He  was  a  very 
handsome  man,  as  straight  as  a  fir  tree.  They  sat  down  to- 
gether and  she  told  him  all  her  adventures,  and  he  wept  at 
the  tale.    And  then  he  told  her  his  own  history. 

"  I  am  a  king's  son.  Once  when  my  father  was  fighting 
against  some  dragons  who  were  the  scourge  of  our  country, 
I  slew  the  youngest  dragon.  His  mother,  who  was  a  witch, 
cast  a  spell  over  me  and  changed  me  into  a  pig.  It  was  she 
who  in  the  disguise  of  an  old  woman  gave  you  the  thread  to 
bind  round  my  foot.  So  that  instead  of  the  three  days  that 
had  to  run  before  the  spell  was  broken,  I  was  forced  to  re- 
main a  pig  for  three  more  years.  Now  that  we  have  suffered 
for  each  other  and  have  found  each  other  again,  let  us  for- 
get the  past." 

Next  morning  they  set  out  early  to  return  to  his  father's 
kingdom.  Great  was  the  rejoicing  of  all  the  people  when 
they  saw  him  and  his  wife;  his  father  and  his  mother  em- 
braced them  both,  and  there  was  feasting  in  the  palace 
for  three  days  and  three  nights. 

Then  they  set  out  to  see  her  father.  The  old  king  nearly 
went  out  of  his  mind  with  joy  at  seeing  his  daughter  again. 
When  she  had  told  him  all  her  adventures,  he  said  to  her : 

"  Did  I  not  tell  you  that  I  was  quite  sure  that  that  creature 
who  wooed  and  won  you  as  his  wife  had  not  been  born  a 
pig  ?  You  see,  my  child,  how  wise  you  were  in  doing  what  I 
told  you." 

And  as  the  king  was  old  and  had  no  heirs,  he  put  them 
on  the  throne  in  his  place.  And  they  ruled  as  only  kings 
rule  who  have  suffered  many  things.  And  if  they  are  not 
dead  they  are  still  living  and  ruling  happily. 


THE  NOKKA. 

Once  upon  a  time  there  lived  a  king  and  queen.  They  had 
three  sons,  two  of  them  with  their  wits  about  them,  but  the 
third  a  simpleton.  Now  the  king  had  a  deer  park  in  which 
were  quantities  of  wild  animals  of  different  kinds.    Into  that 


118  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

park  there  used  to  come  a  huge  beast — norka  was  its  name— ■ 
and  do  fearful  mischief,  devouring  some  of  the  animals  evei-y 
night.  The  king  did  all  he  could,  but  was  unable  to  destroy 
it.  So  at  last  he  called  his  sons  together  and  said  :  "  Who- 
ever will  destroy  the  norka,  to  him  will  I  give  the  half  of 
my  kingdom." 

Well,  the  eldest  son  undertook  the  task.  As  soon  as  it  was 
night  he  took  his  weapons  and  set  out.  But  before  he  reached 
the  park  he  went  into  a  traktir  (tavern),  and  there  he  spent 
the  whole  night  in  revelry.  When  he  came  to  his  senses 
it  was  too  late,  the  day  had  already  dawned.  He  felt  himself 
disgraced  in  the  eyes  of  his  father,  but  there  was  no  help  for 
it.  The  next  day  the  second  son  went,  and  did  just  the  same. 
Their  father  scolded  them  both  soundly  and  there  was  an 
end  of  it. 

Well,  on  the  third  day  the  youngest  son  undertook  the 
task.  They  all  laughed  him  to  scorn  because  he  was  so  stu- 
pid, feeling  sure  he  wouldn't  do  anything.  But  he  took  his 
arms  and  went  straight  into  the  park  and  sat  down  on  the 
grass  in  such  a  position  that  the  moment  he  went  asleep  his 
weapons  would  prick  him,  and  he  would  awake. 

Presently  the  midnight  hour  sounded.  The  earth  began 
to  shake,  and  the  norka  came  rushing  up  and  burst  right 
through  the  fence  into  the  park,  so  huge  was  it. 

The  prince  pulled  himself  together,  leaped  to  his  feet, 
crossed  himself  and  went  straight  at  the  beast.  It  fled  back 
and  the  prince  ran  after  it.  But  he  soon  saw  that  he  couldn't 
catch  it  on  foot,  so  he  hastened  off  to  the  stable,  laid  his 
hands  on  the  best  horse  there,  and  set  off  in  pursuit.  Pres- 
ently he  came  up  with  the  beast  and  they  began  a  fight.  They 
fought  and  fought;  the  prince  gave  the  beast  three  wounds. 
At  last  they  were  both  utterly  exhausted,  so  they  lay  down  to 
take  a  short  rest.  But  the  moment  the  prince  closed  his 
eyes,  up  jumped  the  beast  and  took  to  flight.  The  prince's 
horse  awoke  him;  up  he  jumped  again  in  a  moment,  and  set 
off  again  in  pursuit,  caught  up  the  beast  and  began  fighting 
with  it.  Again  the  prince  gave  the  beast  three  wounds,  and 
then  he  and  the  beast  lay  down  again  to  rest.  Thereupon 
away  fled  the  beast  as  before.  The  prince  caught  it  up  and 
again  gave  it  three  wounds.  But  all  of  a  sudden,  just  as  the 
prince  began  chasing  it  for  the  fourth  time,  the  beast  fled 


THE    RE1>    FAIRY    BOOK. 


11* 


1m  a  great  white  stone,  tilted  it  tip  and  escaped  into  the  other 
irorid,  crying  out  to  the  prince :  "  Then  only  will  you  over- 
tome  me  when  you  enter  here." 

The  prince  went  home,  told  his  father  all  that  had  hap- 
pened, and  asked  him  to  have  a  leather  rope  plaited  long 
enough  to  reach  to  the  other  world.  His  father  ordered  this 
to  be  done.  When  the  rope  was  made  the  prince  called  for 
his  brothers,  and  he  and  they,  having  taken  servants  with 
Them,  and  everything  that  was  needed  for  a  whole  year,  set 
out  for  the  place  where  the  beast  had  disappeared  under  the 
stone.  When  they  got  there  they  built  a  palace  on  the  spot, 
and  lived  in  it  for  some  time.     But  when  everything  was 


;ady  the  youngest  brother  said  to  the  others :  "  Now, 
>rothers,  who  is  going  to  lift  this  stone  ? " 

Neither  of  them  could  as  much  as  stir  it,  but  as  soon  as 
le  touched  it,  away  it  flew  to  a  distance,  though  it  was  ever 
big — big  as  a  hill.  And  when  he  had  flung  the  stone 
aside,  he  spoke  a  second  time  to  his  brothers,  saying: 

"  Who  is  going  into  the  other  world  to  overcome  the 
novka  ?  " 

Neither  of  them  offered  to  do  so.  Then  he  laughed  at  them 
for  being  such  cowards,  and  said: 

"  Well,  brothers,  farewell !    Lower  me  into  the  other  world 


120  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

and  don't  go  away  from  here,  but  as  soon  as  the  cord  is 
jerked,  pull  it  up." 

His  brothers  lowered  him  accordingly,  and  when  he  had 
reached  the  other  world  underneath  the  earth,  he  went  on  his 
way.  He  walked  and  walked.  Presently  he  espied  a  horse 
with  rich  trappings,  and  it  said  to  him: 

"  Hail,  Prince  Ivan !     Long  have  I  awaited  thee !  " 

He  mounted  the  horee  and  rode  on — rode  and  rode,  until 
he  saw  a  palace  before  him  made  of  copper.  He  entered 
the  court-yard,  tied  up  his  horse,  and  went  indoors.  In  one 
o*  the  rooms  a  dinner  was  laid  out.  He  sat  down  and  dined 
and  then  went  into  a  bedroom.  There  he  found  a  bed,  on 
which  he  lay  down  to  rest.  Presently  there  came  a  lady,  more 
beautiful  than  can  be  imagined  anywhere  but  in  a  fairy 
tale,  who  said: 

"  Thou  who  art  in  my  house,  name  thyself !  If  thou  art 
an  old  man  thou  shalt  be  my  father;  if  a  middle-aged  man, 
my  brother;  but  if  a  young  man  thou  shalt  be  my  husband 
dear.  And  if  thou  art  a  woman,  and  an  old  one,  thou  shalt 
be  my  grandmother;  if  middle-aged,  my  mother;  and  if  a 
girl,  thou  shalt  be  my  own  sister." 

Thereupon  he  came  forth.  And  when  she  sav  him  she 
was  delighted  with  him,  and  said: 

"Wherefore,  O  Prince  Ivan — my  husband  dear  shalt  thou 
be ! — wherefore  hast  thou  come  hither  ?  " 

Then  he  told  her  all  that  had  happened,  and  she  said : 

"  That  beast  which  thou  wishest  to  overcome  is  my* 
brother.  He  is  staying  just  now  with  my  second  sister,  who 
lives  not  far  from  here  in  a  silver  palace.  I  bound  up  three 
of  the  wounds  which  thou  didst  give  him." 

Well,  after  this  they  drank  and  enjoyed  themselves,  and 
held  sweet  converse  together,  and  then  the  prince  took  leave 
of  her  and  then  went  on  to  the  second  sister,  the  one  who 
lived  in  the  silver  palace,  and  with  her  also  he  stayed  awhile. 
She  told  him  that  her  brother  norka  was  then  at  her  young- 
est sister's.  So  he  went  on  to  the  youngest  sister,  who  lived 
in  a  golden  palace.  She  told  him  that  her  brother  was  at. 
that  time  asleep  on  the  blue  sea,  and  she  gave  him  a  sword 
of  steel  and  a  draught  of  the  water  of  strength,  and  she  told 
him  to  cut  off  her  brother's  head  at  a  single  stroke.  And 
when  he  had  heard  these  things  he  went  his  way. 


THE   EED    FAIRY   BOOK. 


121 


And  when  the  prince  had  come  to  the  blue  sea,  he  looked— 
there  slept  the  norka  on  a  stone  in  the  middle  of  the  sea; 
and  when  it  snored  the  water  was  agitated  for  seven  miles 
around.  The  prince  crossed  himself,  went  up  to  it,  and 
smote  it  on  the  head  with  his  sword.  The  head  jumped  off, 
saying  the  while,  "Well,  I'm  done  for  now!"  and  rolled 
far  away  into  the  sea. 

After  killing  the  beast  the  prince  went  back  again,  picking 
up  all  the  three  sisters  by  the  way,  with  the  intention  of 


taking  them  out  into  the  upper  world :  for  they  all  loved  him 
and  would  not  be  separated  from  him.  Each  of  them  turned 
her  palace  into  an  egg — for  they  were  all  enchantresses — 
^nd  they  taught  him  how  to  change  the  eggs  into  palaces, 
and  back  again,  and  they  handed  over  the  eggs  to  him  And 
they  all  went  to  the  place  from  which  they  had  to  be  hoisted 
into  the  upper  world.     And  when  they  nam*  tc  where  the 


122  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

rope  was  the  prince  took  hold  of  it  and  made  the  maidens 
fast  to  it.  Then  he  jerked  at  the  rope  and  his  brothers  be- 
gan to  haul  it  up.  And  when  they  had  hauled  it  up  and  had 
set  eyes  on  the  wondrous  maidens,  they  went  aside  and  said : 
"  Let's  lower  the  rope,  pull  our  brother  part  of  the  way  up, 
and  then  cut  the  rope.  Perhaps  he'll  be  killed;  but  then  if 
he  isn't  he'll  never  give  us  these  beauties  as  wives." 

So  when  they  had  agreed  on  this  they  lowered  the  rope. 
But  their  brother  was  no  fool ;  he  guessed  what  they  were  at, 
so  he  fastened  the  rope  to  a  stone,  and  then  gave  it  a  pull. 
His  brothers  hoisted  the  stone  to  a  great  height,  and  then  cut 
the  rope.  Down  fell  the  stone  and  broke  in  pieces ;  the  prince 
poured  forth  tears  and  went  away.  Well,  he  walked  and 
walked.  Presently  a  storm  arose;  the  lightning  flashed,  the 
thunder  roared,  the  rain  fell  in  torrents.  He  went  up  to  a 
tree  in  order  to  take  shelter  under  it,  and  on  that  tree  he 
saw  some  young  birds  which  were  being  thoroughly 
drenched.  So  he  took  off  his  coat  and  covered  them  over 
with  it,  and  he  himself  sat  down  under  the  tree.  Presently 
there  came  a  flying  bird — such  a  big  one  that  the  light  was 
blotted  out  by  it.  It  had  been  dark  there  before,  but  now 
it  became  darker  still.  Now  this  was  the  mother  of  those 
small  birds  which  the  prince  had  covered  up.  And  when  the 
bird  had  come  flying  up,  she  perceived  that  her  little  ones 
were  covered  over,  and  she  said :  "  Who  has  wrapped  up  my 
nestlings  ? "  and  presently,  seeing  the  prince,  she  added : 
"  Didst  thou  do  that  ?  Thanks !  In  return,  ask  of  me  any- 
thing thou  desirest.    I  will  do  anything  for  thee." 

"  Then  carry  me  into  the  other  world,"  he  replied. 

"  Make  me  a  large  vessel  with  a  partition  in  the  middle," 
she  said ;  "  catch  all  sorts  of  game  and  put  them  into  one 
half  of  it,  and  into  the  other  half  pour  water;  so  that  there 
may  be  meat  and  drink  for  me." 

All  this  the  prince  did.  Then  the  bird — having  taken 
the  vessel  on  her  back,  with  the  prince  sitting  in  the  mid- 
dle of  it — began  to  fly.  And  after  flying  some  distance  she 
brought  him  to  his  journey's  end,  took  leave  of  him,  and 
flew  away  back.  But  he  went  to  the  house  of  a  certain  tailor 
and  engaged  himself  as  his  servant.  So  much  the  worse  for 
wear  was  he,  so  thoroughly  had  he  altered  in  appearance, 
that  nobody  would  have  suspected  him  of  being  a  prince. 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  123 

Having  entered  into  the  service  of  this  master,  the  prince 
began  to  ask  what  was  going  on  in  that  country.  And  nis 
master  replied :  "  Our  two  princes — for  the  third  one  has  dis- 
appeared— have  brought  away  brides  from  the  other  world, 
and  want  to  marry  them,  but  those  brides  refuse.  For  they 
insist  on  having  all  their  wedding-clothes  made  for  them 
first,  exactly  like  those  which  they  used  to  have  in  the  other 
world,  and  that  without  being  measured  for  them.  The  king 
has  called  all  the  workmen  together,  but  not  one  of  them 
will  undertake  to  do  it." 

The  prince,  having  heard  all  this,  said :  "  Go  to  the  king, 
master,  and  tell  him  that  you  will  provide  everything  that's 
in  your  line." 

"  How  can  I  undertake  to  make  clothes  of  that  sort  ?  I 
work  for  quite  common  folks,"  says  his  master. 

"  Go  along,  master !  I  will  answer  for  everything,"  says 
the  prince. 

So  the  tailor  went.  The  king  was  delighted  that  at  least 
one  good  workman  had  been  found,  and  gave  him  as  much 
money  as  ever,  he  wanted.  When  his  tailor  had  settled 
everything,  he  went  home.     And  the  prince  said  to  him: 

"  Now  then,  pray  to  God,  and  lie  down  to  sleep ;  to-morrow 
all  will  be  ready."  And  the  tailor  followed  his  lad's  advice 
and  went  to  bed. 

Midnight  sounded.  The  prince  arose,  went  out  of  the  city 
into  the  fields,  took  out  of  his  pocket  the  eggs  which  the 
maidens  had  given  him,  and,  as  they  had  taught  him,  turned 
them  into  three  palaces.  Into  each  of  these  he  entered,  took 
the  maidens'  robes,  went  out  again,  turned  the  palaces  back 
into  eggs,  and  went  home.  And  when  he  got  there  he  hung 
up  the  robes  on  the  wall  and  lay  down  to  sleep. 

Early  in  the  morning  his  master  awoke,  and,  behold !  there 
hung  such  robes  as  he  had  never  seen  before,  all  shining  with 
gold  and  silver  and  precious  stones.  He  was  delighted,  and 
he  seized  them  and  carried  them  off  to  the  king.  When  the 
princesses  saw  that  the  clothes  were  those  which  had  been 
theirs  in  the  other  world,  they  guessed  that  Prince  Ivan  was 
in  this  world,  so  they  exchanged  glances  with  each  other, 
but  they  held  their  peace.  And  the  master,  having  handed 
over  the  clothes,  went  home,  but  he  no  longer  found  his  dear 
journeyman  there.    For  the  prince  had  gone  to  a  shoemaker's1 


124  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

and  him,  too,  he  sent  to  work  for  the  king;  and  in  the  same 
way  he  went  the  round  of  all  the  artificers,  and  they  all 
proffered  him  thanks,  inasmuch  as  through  him  they  were 
enriched  by  the  king. 

By  the  time  the  princely  workman  had  gone  the  round  of 
all  the  artificers  the  princesses  had  received  what  they  had 
asked  for ;  all  their  clothes  were  just  like  what  they  had  been 
in  the  other  world.  Then  they  wept  bitterly  because  the 
prince  had  not  come,  and  it  was  impossible  for  them  to  hold 
out  any  longer;  it  was  necessary  that  they  should  be  mar- 
ried. But  when  they  were  ready  for  the  wedding,  the  young- 
est bride  said  to  the  king: 

"  Allow  me,  my  father,  to  go  and  give  alms  to  the  beggars." 

He  gave  her  leave,  and  she  went  and  began  bestowing  alms 
upon  them,  and  examining  them  closely.  And  when  she  had 
come  to  one  of  them,  and  was  going  to  give  him  some  money 
she  caught  sight  of  the  ring  which  she  had  given  to  the 
prince  in  the  other  world,  and  her  sister's  rings  too — for  it 
really  was  he.  So  she  seized  him  by  the  hand,  and  brought 
him  into  the  hall,  and  said  to  the  king: 

"  Here  is  he  who  brought  us  out  of  the  other  world.  His 
brothers  forbade  us  to  say  that  he  was  alive,  threatening  to 
slay  us  if  we  did." 

Then  the  king  was  wrath  with  those  sons,  and  punished 
them  as  he  thought  best.  And  afterward  three  weddings 
were  celebrated. 


THE  WONDEKFUL  BIECH* 

i 
Once  upon  a  time  there  were  a  man  and  a  woman,  who  had 

an  only  daughter.    Now  it  happened  that  one  of  their  sheep 

went  astray,  and  they  set  out  to  look  for  it,  and  searched, 

each  in  a  different  part  of  the  wood.    Then  the  good  wife  met 

a  witch,  who  said  to  her: 

"  If  you  spit,  you  miserable  creature,  if  you  spit  into  the 

sheath  of  my  knife,  or'  if  you  run  between  my  legs,  I  shall 

change  you  into  a  black  sheep." 

The  woman  neither  spat,  nor  did  she  run  between  her  legs, 

but  yet  the  witch  changed  her  into  a  sheep.    Then  she  made 
*  From  the  Russo-Karelian. 


/ 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  125 

herself  look  exactly  like  the  woman,  and  called  out  to  the 
good  man: 

"Ho,  old  man,  halloo!    I  have  found  the  sheep  already!" 

The  man  thought  the  witch  was  really  his  wife,  and  he  did 
not  know  that  his  wife  was  the  sheep;  so  he  went  home  with 
her,  glad  at  heart  because  his  sheep  was  found.  When  they 
were  safe  at  home  the  witch  said  to  the  man : 

"  Look  here,  old  man,  we  must  really  kill  that  sheep  lest    V 
it  run  away  to  the  wood  again." 

The  man,  who  was  a  peaceable,  quiet  sort  of  fellow,  made 
no  objection,  but  simply  said:  ~ 

"  Good,  let  us  do  so." 

The  daughter,  however,  overheard  their  talk,  and  she  ran 
to  the  flock  and  lamented  aloud: 

"  Oh,  dear  little  mother,  they  are  going  to  slaughter  you !  "     >C 

"Well,  then,   if  they   do   slaughter  me,"   was   the   black       \/ 
sheep's  answer,  "  eat  you  neither  the  meat  nor  the  broth  that       ' 
is  made  of  me,  but  gather  all  my  bones  and  bury  them  by 
the  edge  of  the  field." 

Shortly  after  this  they  took  the  black  sheep  from  the  flock 
and  slaughtered  it.  The  witch  made  pea  soup  of  it  and  set  it 
before  the  daughter.  But  the  girl  remembered  her  mother's 
warning.  She  did  not  touch  the  soup,  but  she  carried  the 
bones  to  the  edge  of  the  field  and  buried  them  there:  and 
there  sprang  up  on  the  spot  a  birch  tree — a  very  lovely  birch 
tree. 

Some  time  had  passed  away — who  can  tell  how  long  they 
might  have  been  living  there? — when  the  witch,  to  whom  a 
child  had  been  born  in  the  meantime,  began  to  take  an  ill- 
will  to  the  man's  daughter,  and  to  torment  her  in  all  sorts 
of  ways. 

!Now  it  happened  that  a  great  festival  was  to  be  held  at 
the  palace,  and  the  king  had  commanded  that  all  the  people 
should  be  invited,  and  that  this  proclamation  should  be 
made: 

"  Come,  people  all! 
Poor  and  wretched,  one  and  all! 
Blind  and  crippled  though  ye  be, 
Mount  your  steeds  or  come  by  sea." 

And  so  they  drove  to  the  king's  feast  all  the  outcasts,  and 
the  maimed,  and  the  halt,  and  the  blind.    In  the  good  man'a 


126  THE  KED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

house,  too,  preparations  were  made  to  go  to  the  palace.  The 
witch  said  to  the  man: 

"  Go  you  on  in  front,  old  man,  with  our  youngest ;  I  will 
give  the  elder  girl  work  to  keep  her  from  being  dull  in  our 
absence." 

So  the  man  took  the  child  and  set  out.  But  the  witch 
kindled  a  fire  on  the  hearth,  threw  a  potful  of  barleycorns 
among  the  cinders,  and  said  to  the  girl : 

"  If  you  have  not  picked  the  barley  out  of  the  ashes  and 
X  put  it  all  back  in  the  pot  before  nightfall,  I  shall  eat  you 
up!" 

Then  she  hastened  after  the  others,  and  the  poor  girl 
titayed  at  home  and  wept.  She  tried  to  be  sure  to  pick  up 
the  grains  of  barley,  but  she  soon  saw  how  useless  her  labor 
was;  and  so  she  went  in  her  sore  trouble  to  the  birch  tree  on 
her  mother's  grave,  and  cried  and  cried,  because  her  mother 
lay  dead  beneath  the  sod  and  could  help  her  no  longer.  In 
the  midst  of  her  grief  she  suddenly  heard  her  mother's 
voice  speak  from  the  grave  and  say  to  her: 

"  Why  do  you  weep,  little  daughter  ?  " 

"  The  witch  has  scattered  barleycorns  on  the  hearth,  and 
bid  me  pick  them  out  of  the  ashes,"  said  the  girl ;  "  that  is 
why  I  weep,  dear  little  mother." 

"  Do  not  weep,"  said  her  mother  consolingly.  "  Break  off 
one  of  my  branches  and  strike  the  hearth  with  it  crossways, 
and  all  will  be  put  right." 

The  girl  did  so.  She  struck  the  hearth  with  the  birchen 
branch,  and  lo!  the  barleycorns  flew  into  the  pot,  and  the 
hearth  was  clean.  Then  she  went  back  to  the  birch  tree  and 
laid  the  branch  upon  the  grave.  Then  her  mother  bade  her 
bathe  on  one  side  of  the  stem,  dry  herself  on  another,  and 
dress  on  the  third.  When  the  girl  had  done  all  that  she  had 
grown  so  lovely  that  no  one  on  earth  could  rival  her.  Splen- 
did clothing  was  given  to  her,  and  a  horse,  with  hair  partly 
of  gold,  partly  of  silver,  and  partly  of  something  more  pre- 
cious still.  The  girl  sprang  into  the  saddle,  and  rode  as 
swift  as  an  arrow  to  the  palace.  As  she  turned  into  the 
court-yard  of  the  castle  the  king's  son  came  out  to  meet  her, 
tied  her  steed  to  a  pillar,  and  led  her  in.  He  never  left  her 
side  as  they  passed  through  the  castle  rooms;  and  all  the 
people  gazed  at  her,  and  wondered  who  the  lovely  maiden 


THE   EED    FAIRY    BOOK. 


127 


was,  and  from  what  castle  she  came;  but  no  one  knew  her — 
no  one  knew  anything  about  her.  At  the  banquet  the  prince 
invited  her  to  sit  next  to  him  in  the  place  of  honor;  but  the 
witch's  daughter  gnawed  the  bones  under  the  table.  The 
prince  did  not  see  her,  and  thinking  it  was  a  dog,  he  gave 
her  such  a  push  with  his  foot  that  her  arm  was  broken.    Are 


you  not  sorry  for  the  witch's  daughter  ?  It  was  not  her  fault 
that  her  mother  was  a  witch. 

Toward  evening  the  good  man's  daughter  thought  it  was 
time  to  go  home;  but  as  she  went  her  ring  caught  on  the 
latch  of  the  door,  for  the  king's  son  had  had  it  smeared 
with  tar.  She  did  not  take  time  to  pull  it  off,  but,  hastily 
unfastening  her  horse  from  the  pillar,  she  rode  away  beyond 
the  castle  walls  as  swift  as  an  arrow.  Arrived  at  home  she 
took  off  her  clothes  by  the  birch  tree,  left  her  horse  standing 
there,  and  hastened  to  her  place  behind  the  stove.  In  a  short 
time  the  man  and  the  woman  came  home  again  too,  and  the 
witch  said  to  the  girl : 

"Ah!  you  poor  thing,  there  you  are,  to  be  sure!  You 
don't  know  what  fine  times  we  have  had  at  the  palace !    The 


128  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

king's  son  carried  my  daughter  about,  but  the  poor  thing 
fell  and  broke  her  arm." 

The  girl  knew  well  how  matters  really  stood,  but  she  pre- 
tended to  know  nothing  about  it,  and  sat  dumb  behind  the 
stove. 

The  next  day  they  were  invited  again  to  the  king's  ban- 
quet. 

"Hey,  old  man,"  said  the  witch,  "get  on  your  clothes  as 
quick  as  you  can ;  we  are  bidden  to  the  feast.  Take  you  the 
child ;  I  will  give  the  other  one  work,  lest  she  weary." 

She  kindled  the  fire,  threw  a  potful  of  hemp  seed  among 
the  ashes,  and  said  to  the  girl: 

"  If  you  do  not  get  this  sorted,  and  all  the  seed  back  into 
the  pot,  I  shall  kill  you !  " 

The  girl  wept  bitterly;  then  she  went  to  the  birch  tree, 
washed  herself  on  one  side  of  it  and  dried  herself  on  the 
other;  and  this  time  still  finer  clothes  were  given  to  her, 
and  a  very  beautiful  steed.  She  broke  off  a  branch  of  the 
birch  tree,  struck  the  hearth  with  it,  so  that  the  seeds  flew 
into  the  pot,  and  then  hastened  to  the  castle. 

Again  the  king's  son  came  out  to  meet  her,  tied  her  horse 
to  a  pillar,  and  led  her  into  the  banqueting  hall.  At  the  feast 
the  girl  sat  next  him  in  the  place  of  honor,  as  she  had  done 
the  day  before.  But  the  witch's  daughter  gnawed  bones  un- 
der the  table,  and  the  prince  gave  her  a  push  by  mistake, 
which  broke  her  leg — he  had  never  noticed  her  crawling 
about  among  the  people's  feet.     She  was  very  unlucky! 

The  good  man's  daughter  hastened  home  again  betimes, 
but  the  king's  son  had  smeared  the  door-posts  with  tar,  and 
the  girl's  golden  circlet  stuck  to  it.  She  had  not  time  to 
look  for  it,  but  sprang  to  the  saddle  and  rode  like  an  arrow 
to  the  birch  tree.  There  she  left  her  horse  and  her  fine 
clothes,  and  said  to  her  mother : 

"I  have  lost  my  circlet  at  the  castle;  the  door-post  was 
tarred,  and  it  stuck  fast." 

"And  even  had  you  lost  two  of  them,"  answered  her 
mother,  "  I  would  give  you  finer  ones." 

Then  the  girl  hastened  home,  and  when  her  father  came 
home  from  the  feast  with  the  witch,  she  was  in  her  usual 
place  behind  the  stove.    Then  the  witch  said  to  her: 

"  You  poor  tiring !  what  is  there  to  see  here  compared  with 


THE    EEJj    *AIRY    BOOK.  129 

what  we  have  seen  at  the  palace  ?  The  king's  son  carried  my 
daughter  from  one  room  to  another;  he  let  her  fall,  'tis 
true,  and  my  child's  foot  was  broken." 

The  man's  daughter  held  her  peace  all  the  time,  and 
busied  herself  about  the  hearth. 

The  night  passed,  and  when  the  day  began  to  dawn,  the 
witch  awakened  her  husband,  crying : 

"  Hi !  get  up,  old  man !     We  are  bidden  to  the  banquet." 

So  the  old  man  got  up.  Then  the  witch  gave  him  the 
child,  saying: 

"Take  you  the  little  one;  I  will  give  the  other  girl  work        ' 
to  do,  else  she  will  weary  at  home  alone." 

She  did  as  usual.  This  time  it  was  a  dish  of  milk  ohe 
poured  upon  the  ashes,  saying: 

"  If  you  do  not  get  all  the  milk  into  the  dish  again  before     \J 
I  come  home,  you  will  suffer  for  it." 

How  frightened  the  girl  was  this  time!  She  ran  to  the 
birch  tree,  and  by  its  magic  power  her  task  was  accom- 
plished; and  then  she  rode  away  to  the  palace  as  before. 
When  she  got  to  the  court-yard  she  found  the  prince  waiting 
for  her.  He  led  her  into  the  hall,  where  she  was  highly 
honored;  but  the  witch's  daughter  sucked  the  bones  under 
the  table,  and  crouching  at  the  people's  feet  she  got  an  eye 
knocked  out,  poor  thing !  Now  no  one  knew  any  more  than 
before  about  the  good  man's  daughter,  no  one  knew  whence 
she  came;  but  the  prince  had  had  the  threshold  smeared  with 
tar,  and  as  she  fled  her  gold  slippers  stuck  to  it.  She  reached 
the  birch  tree  and  laying  aside  her  finery,  she  said: 

"  Alas !  dear  little  mother,  I  have  lost  my  gold  slippers ! "  »^ 

"  Let  them  be,"  was  her  mother's  reply ;  "  if  you  need  them 
I  shall  give  you  finer  ones." 

Scarcely  was  she  in  her  usual  place  behind  the  stove  when 
her  father  came  home  with  the  witch.  Immediately  the 
witch  began  to  mock  her,  saying : 

"  Ah !  you  poor  thing,  there  is  nothing  for  you  to  see      w 
here,  and  we — ah!  what  great  things  we  have  seen  at  the 
palace !    My  little  girl  was  carried  about  again,  but  had  the 
ill-luck  to  fall  and  get  her  eye  knocked  out.     You  stupid 
thing,  you,  what  do  you  know  about  anything?" 

"  Yes,  indeed,  what  can  I  know  ?  "  replied  the  girl ;  "  I  had        >J 
enough  to  do  to  get  the  hearth  clean." 


0 


y- 


130  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

Now  the  prince  had  kept  all  the  things  the  girl  had  lost, 
and  he  soon  set  about  finding  the  owner  of  them.  For  this 
purpose  a  great  banquet  was  given  on  the  fourth  day,  and  all 
the  people  were  invited  to  the  palace.  ,  The  witch  got  ready 
to  go  too.  She  tied  a  wooden  beetle  on  where  her  child's 
foot  should  have  been,  a  log  of  wood  instead  of  an  arm,  and 
stuck  a  bit  of  dirt  in  the  empty  socket  for  an  eye,  and  took 
the  child  with  her  to  the  castle.  When  all  the  people  were 
gathered  together  the  king's  son  stepped  in  among  the  crowd 
and  cried: 

v  "  The  maiden  whose  finger  this  ring  slips  over,  whose  head 
this  golden  hoop  encircles,  and  whose  foot  this  shoe  fits,  shall 
be  my  bride." 

What  a  great  trying  on  there  was  now  among  them  all! 
The  things  would  fit  no  one,  however. 

"  The  cinder  wench  is  not  here,"  said  the  prince  at  last ; 
"  go  and  fetch  her  and  let  her  try  on  the  things." 

So  the  girl  was  fetched,  and  the  prince  was  just  going  to 
hand  the  ornaments  to  her,  when  the  witch  held  him  back, 
saying : 

"Don't  give  them  to  her;  she  soils  everything  with  cin- 
ders; give  them  to  my  daughter,  rather." 

Well,  then  the  prince  gave  the  witch's  daughter  the  ring, 
and  the  woman  filed  and  pared  away  at  her  daughter's  finger 
till  the  ring  fitted.  It  was  the  same  with  the  circlet  and 
shoes  of  gold.  The  witch  would  not  allow  them  to  be  handed 
to  the  cinder  wench;  she  worked  at  her  own  daughter's  head 
and  feet  till  she  got  the  things  forced  on.  What  was  to  be 
done  now?  The  prince  had  to  take  the  witch's  daughter  for 
his  bride,  whether  he  would  or  no;  he  sneaked  away  to  her 
father's  house  with  her,  however,  for  he  was  ashamed  to 
hold  the  wedding  festivities  at  the  palace  with  so  strange  a 
bride.  Some  days  passed,  and  at  last  he  had  to  take  his 
bride  home  to  the  palace,  and  he  got  ready  to  do  so.  Just  as 
they  were  taking  leave  the  kitchen  wench  sprang  down  from 
her  place  by  the  stove,  on  the  pretext  of  fetching  some- 
thing from  the  cow-house,  and  in  going  by  she  whispered  in 
the  prince's  ear  as  he  stood  in  the  yard : 

"  Alas,  dear  prince,  do  not  rob  me  of  my  silver  and  my 
gold." 

Thereupon  the  king's  son  recognized  the  cinder  wench; 


THE  BED  FAIEY  BOOK.  131 

so  lie  took  both  the  girls  with  him,  and  set  out.  After  they 
had  gone  some  little  way  they  came  to  the  bank  of  a 
river,  and  the  prince  threw  the  witch's  daughter  across  to 
serve  as  a  bridge,  and  so  got  over  with  the  cinder  wench. 
There  lay  the  witch's  daughter,  then,  like  a  bridge  over  the 
river,  and  could  not  stir,  though  her  heart  was  consumed 
with  grief.  No  help  was  near,  so  she  cried  at  last  in  her 
anguish : 

"  May  there  grow  a  golden  hemlock  out  of  my  body !  per-    \J 
haps  my  mother  will  know  me  by  that  token." 

Scarcely  had  she  spoken  when  a  golden  hemlock  sprang  up 
from  her,  and  stood  upon  the  bridge. 

Now,  as  soon  as  the  prince  had  got  rid  of  the  witch's 
daughter  he  greeted  the  cinder  wench  as  his  bride,  and  they 
wandered  together  to  the  birch  tree  which  grew  upon  the 
mother's  grave.  There  they  received  all  sorts  of  treasures 
and  riches,  three  sacks  full  of  gold,  and  as  much  silver,  and 
a  splendid  steed  which  bore  them  home  to  the  palace.  '  There 
they  lived  a  long  time  together,  and  the  young  wife  bore  a 
son  to  the  prince.  Immediately  word  was  brought  to  the 
witch  that  her  daughter  had  borne  a  son — for  they  all  be- 
lieved the  young  king's  wife  to  be  the  witch's  daughter. 

"  So,  so,"  said  the  witch  to  herself ;  "  I  had  better  away     ^ 
with  my  gift  for  the  infant  then." 

And  so  saying,  she  set  out.  Thus  it  happened  that  she 
came  to  the  bank  of  the  river,  and  there  she  saw  the  beautiful 
golden  hemlock  growing  in  the  middle  of  the  bridge,  and 
when  she  began  to  cut  it  down  to  take  to  her  grandchild,  she 
heard  a  voice  moaning:  v, 

"  Alas !  dear  mother,  do  not  cut  me  so !  " 

"  Are  you  here  ?  "  demanded  the  witch.  ^ 

"  Indeed  I  am,  dear  little  mother,"  answered  the  daughter. 
"  They  threw  me  across  the  river  to  make  a  bridge  of 
me." 

In  a  moment  the  witch  had  the  bridge  shivered  to  atoms, 
and  then  she  hastened  away  to  the  palace.  Stepping  up  to 
the  young  queen's  bed  she  began  to  try  her  magic  arts  upon 
her,  saying: 

"  Spit,  you  wretch,  on  the  blade  of  my  knife ;  bewitch  my 
knife  blade  for  me,  and  I  shall  change  you  into  a  reindeer 
of  the  forest." 


132  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

"Are  you  there  again  to  bring  trouble  upon  me?"  said 
the  young  woman. 

She  neither  spat  nor  did  anything  else,  but  still  the  witch 
changed  her  into  a  reindeer,  and  smuggled  her  own  daughter 
into  her  place  as  the  prince's  wife.  But  now  the  child  gic\V 
restless  and  cried,  because  it  missed  its  mother's  care.  They 
took  it  to  the  court  and  tried  to  pacify  it  in  every  conceiv- 
able way,  but  its  crying  never  ceased. 

"  What  makes  the  child  so  restless  ? "  asked  the  prince, 
and  he  went  to  a  wise  widow  woman  to  ask  her  advice. 

"  Aye,  aye,  your  own  wife  is  not  at  home,"  said  the  widow 
woman ;  "  she  is  living  like  a  reindeer  in  the  wood ;  you  have 
the  witch's  daughter  for  a  wife  now,  and  the  witch  herself 
for  a  mother-in-law." 

"  Is  there  any  way  of  getting  my  own  wife  back  from  the 
wood  again  ?  "  asked  the  prince. 

"  Give  me  the  child,"  answered  the  widow  woman.  "  I'll 
take  it  with  me  to-morrow  when  I  go  to  drive  the  cows  to 
the  wood.  I'll  make  a  rustling  among  the  birch  leaves  and 
a  trembling  among  the  aspens — perhaps  the  boy  will  grow 
quiet  when  he  hears  it." 

"Yes,  take  the  child  away,  take  it  to  the  wood  with  you 
to  quiet  it,"  said  the  prince,  and  led  the  widow  woman  into 
the  castle. 

"How  now?  you  are  going  to  send  the  child  away  to  the, 
wood  ? "  said  the  witch  in  a  suspicious  tone,  and  tried  to  in- 
terfere. 

But  the  king's  son  stood  firm  by  what  he  had  commanded, 
and  said: 

"  Carry  the  child  about  the  wood ;  perhaps  that  will  pacify 
it." 

So  the  widow  woman  took  the  child  to  the  wood.  She 
eame  to  the  edge  of  a  marsh  and  seeing  a  herd  of  reindeer 
there  she  began  all  at  once  to  sing : 

"  Little  Bright-eyes,  little  Redskin, 
Come  nurse  the  child  you  bore! 

That  blood-thirsty  monster, 

That  man-eater  grim, 
Shall  nurse  him,  shall  tend  him  no  more. 

They  may  threaten  and  force  as  they  will, 

He  turns  from  her,  shrinks  from  her  still." 

And  immediately  the  reindeer  drew  near  and  nursed  and 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  133 

tended  the  child  the  whole  day  long;  but  at  nightfall  it  had 
to  follow  the  herd,  and  said  to  the  widow  woman: 

"  Bring  me  the  child  to-morrow,  and  again  the  following 
day;  after  that  I  must  wander  with  the  herd  far  away  to 
other  lands." 

The  following  morning  the  widow  woman  went  back  to  the 
castle  to  fetch  the  child.  The  witch  interfered,  of  course, 
but  the  prince  said: 

"Take  it,  and  carry  it  about  in  the  open  air;  the  boy  is 
quieter  at  night,  to  be  sure,  when  he  has  been  in  the  wood 
all  day." 

So  the  widow  woman  took  the  child  in  her  arms  and  car- 

fied  it  to  the  marsh  in  the  forest.    There  she  sung,  as  on  the 
receding  day: 

*•  Little  Bright-eyes,  little  Bedskin, 
Come  nurse  the  child  you  bore! 

That  blood-thirsty  monster, 

That  man-eater  grim, 
Shall  nurse  him,  shall  tend  him  no  more. 

They  may  threaten  and  force  as  they  will, 

He  turns  from  her,  shrinks  from  her  still." 

And  immediately  the  reindeer  left  the  herd  and  came  to  the 
child,  and  tended  it  as  on  the  day  before.  And  so  it  was  that 
the  child  throve,  till  not  a  finer  boy  was  to  be  seen  anywhere. 
But  the  king's  son  had  been  pondering  over  all  these  things, 
and  he  said  to  the  widow  woman: 

"  Is  there  no  way  of  changing  the  reindeer  into  a  human 
being  again  ?  " 

"  I  don't  rightly  know,"  was  her  answer.     "  Come  to  the 
wood  with  me,  however;  when  the  woman  puts  off  her  rein- 
deer skin  I  shall  comb  her  head  for  her;  while  I  am  doing     *V 
so  you  must  burn  the  skin." 

Thereupon  they  both  went  to  the  wood  with  the  child; 
scarcely  were  they  there  when  the  reindeer  appeared  and 
nursed  the  child  as  before.  Then  the  widow  woman  said  to 
the  reindeer: 

"  Since  you  are  going  far  away  to-morrow,  and  I  shall  not      / 
see  you  again,  let  me  comb  your  head  for  the  last  time,  as  a 
remembrance  of  you." 

Good ;  the  young  woman  stripped  off  the  reindeer  skin,  and 
let  the  widow  woman  do  as  she  wished.  In  the  meantime  the 
king's  son  threw  the  reindeer  skin  into  the  fire  unobserved 


K 


134 


THE    RED    FAIRY    BOOK. 


"  What  smells  of  singeing  here  ? "  asked  the  young  woman, 
and  looking  round  she  saw  her  own  husband.  "  Woe  is  me! 
you  have  burned  my  skin.  Why  did  you  do  that  ? " 
"  To  give  you  back  your  human  form  again." 
"  Alack-a-day !  I  have  nothing  to  cover  me  now,  poor 
creature  that  I  am !  "  cried  the  young  woman,  and  trans- 
formed herself  first  into  a  distaff,  then  into  a  wooden  beetle, 


then  into  a  spindle,  and  into  all  imaginable  shapes.  But  all 
these  shapes  the  king's  son  went  on  destroying  till  she  stood 
before  him  in  human  form  again. 

"Alas!  wherefore  take  me  home  with  you  again."  cried 
the  young  woman,  "  since  the  witch  is  sure  to  eat  me  up  ?  " 

"  She  will  not  eat  you  up,"  answered  her  husband ;  and 
they  started  for  home  with  the  child. 

But  when  the  witch  wife  saw  them  she  ran  away  with 
her  daughter,  and  if  she  has  not  stopped  she  is  running 
still,  though  at  a  great  age.  And  the  prince,  and  his  wife, 
and  the  baby  lived  happy  ever  afterward. 


THE   RED    FAIRY   BOOK.  135 

JACK  AND  THE  BEANSTALK 

JACK  SELLS  THE  COW. 

Once  upon  a  time  there  was  a  poor  widow  who  lived  in  a 
little  cottage  with  her  only  son  Jack. 

Jack  was  a  giddy,  thoughtless  boy,  but  very  kind-hearted 
and  affectionate.  There  had  been  a  hard  winter,  and  after 
it  the  poor  woman  had  suffered  from  fever  and  ague.  Jack 
did  no  work  as  yet,  and  by  degrees  they  grew  dreadfully  poor. 
The  widow  saw  that  there  was  no  means  of  keeping  Jack 
and  herself  from  starvation  but  by  selling  her  cow,  so  one 
morning  she  said  to  her  son :  "  I  am  too  weak  to  go  myself, 
Jack,  so  you  must  take  the  cow  to  market  for  me,  and  sell 
her." 

Jack  liked  going  to  market  to  sell  the  cow  very  much ;  but 
as  he  was  on  his  way  he  met  a  butcher  who  had  some  beau- 
tiful beans  in  his  hand.  Jack  stopped  to  look  at  them, 
and  the  butcher  told  the  boy  that  they  were  of  great  value, 
and  persuaded  the  silly  lad  to  sell  the  cow  for  these  beans. 

When  he  brought  them  home  to  his  mother  instead  of  the 
money  she  expected  for  her  nice  cow,  she  was  very  vexed, 
and  shed  many  tears,  scolding  Jack  for  his  folly.  He  was 
very  sorry,  and  mother  and  son  went  to  bed  very  sadly  that 
night;  their  last  hope  seemed  gone. 

At  daybreak  Jack  rose  and  went  out  into  the  garden. 

"  At  least,"  he  thought,  "  I  will  sow  the  wonderful  beans. 
Mother  says  that  they  are  just  plain  scarlet-runners,  anct 
nothing  else ;  but  I  may  as  well  sow  them." 

So  he  took  a  piece  of  stick  and  made  some  holes  in  the 
ground,  and  put  in  the  beans. 

That  day  they  had  very  little  dinner,  and  went  sadly  to 
bed,  knowing  that  for  the  next  day  there  would  be  none; 
and  Jack,  unable  to  sleep  from  grief  and  vexation,  got  up 
at  day-dawn  and  went  out  into  the  garden. 

What  was  his  amazement  to  find  that  the  beans  had  grown 
up  in  the  night,  and  climbed  up  and  up  till  they  covered  the 
high  cliff  that  sheltered  the  cottage,  and  disappeared  above 
it !  The  stalks  had  twined  and  twisted  themselves  until  they 
formed  quite  a  ladder. 


136  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

"  It  would  be  easy  to  climb  it,"  thought  Jack. 

And  having  thought  of  the  experiment  he  at  once  re- 
solved to  carry  it  out,  for  Jack  was  a  good  climber.  How- 
ever, after  his  late  mistake  about  the  cow,  he  thought  he  had 
better  consult  his  mother  first. 

WONDERFUL  GROWTH  OF  THE  BEANSTALK. 

So  Jack  called  his  mother,  and  they  both  gazed  in  silent 
wonder  at  the  beanstalk,  which  was  not  only  of  great  height, 
but  was  thick  enough  to  bear  Jack's  weight. 

"I  wonder  where  it  ends,"  said  Jack  to  his  mother;  "I 
think  I  will  climb  up  and  see." 

His  mother  wished  him  not  to  venture  up  this  strange 
ladder,  but  Jack  coaxed  her  to  give  her  consent  to  the  at- 
tempt, for  he  was  certain  there  must  be  something  won- 
derful in  the  beanstalk;    so  at  last  she  yielded  to  his  wishes. 

Jack  instantly  began  to  climb,  and  went  up  and  up  on  the 
ladder-like  stalk  till  everything  he  had  left  behind  him — the 
cottage,  the  village,  and  even  the  tall  church  tower — looked 
quite  little,  and  still  he  could  not  see  the  top  of  the  bean- 
stalk. 

Jack  felt  a  little  tired,  and  thought  for  a  moment  that  he 
would  go  back  again;  but  he  was  a  very  persevering  boy, 
and  he  knew  that  the  way  to  succeed  in  anything  is  not  to 
give  up.    So,  after  resting  for  a  moment,  he  went  on. 

After  climbing  higher  and  higher,  till  he  grew  afraid  to 
look  down  for  fear  he  should  be  giddy,  Jack  at  last  reached 
the  top  of  the  beanstalk,  and  found  himself  in  a  beautiful 
country,  finely  wooded,  with  beautiful  meadows  covered 
with  sheep.  A  crystal  stream  ran  through  the  pastures ;  not 
far  from  the  place  where  he  had  got  off  the  beanstalk  stood 
a  fine,  strong  castle. 

Jack  wondered  very  much  that  he  had  never  heard  of  or 
seen  this  castle  before;  but  when  he  reflected  on  the  sub- 
ject, he  saw  that  it  was  as  much  separated  from  the  village 
by  the  perpendicular  rock  on  which  it  stood,  as  if  it  were 
in  another  land. 

While  Jack  was  standing  looking  at  the  castle  a  very 
strange-looking  woman  came  out  of  the  wood,  and  advanced 
toward  him. 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  137 

She  wore  a  pointed  cap  of  quilted  red  satin  turned  up 
with  ermine,  her  hair  streamed  loose  over  her  shoulders,  and 
she  walked  with  a  staff.  Jack  took  off  his  cap  and  made  her 
a  bow. 

"  If  you  please,  ma'am,"  said  he,  "  is  this  your  house  ?  " 

"  No,"  said  the  old  lady.  "  Listen,  and  I  will  tell  you  the 
story  of  that  castle: 

"  Once  upon  a  time  there  was  a  noble  knight  who  lived  in 
this  castle,  which  is  on  the  borders  of  fairyland.  He  had  a 
fair  and  beloved  wife  and  several  lovely  children:  and  as 
his  neighbors  the  little  people  were  very  friendly  toward 
him,  they  bestowed  on  him  many  excellent  and  precious 
gifts. 

"  Kumors  whispered  of  these  treasures ;  and  a  monstrous 
giant,  who  lived  at  no  great  distance,  and  who  was  a  very 
wicked  being,  resolved  to  obtain  possession  of  them. 

"  So  he  bribed  a  false  servant  to  let  him  inside  the  castle, 
when  the  knight  was  in  bed  and  asleep,  and  he  killed  him 
as  he  lay.  Then  he  went  to  the  part  of  the  castle  which  was 
the  nursery,  and  also  killed  all  the  poor  little  ones  he  found 
there. 

"  Happily  for  her,  the  lady  was  not  to  be  found.  She  had 
gone  with  her  infant  son,  who  was  only  two  or  three  months 
old,  to  visit  her  old  nurse,  who  lived  in  the  valley;  and  she 
had  been  detained  all  night  there  by  a  storm. 

"The  next  morning,  as  soon  as  it  was  light,  one  of  the 
servants  at  the  castle,  who  had  managed  to  escape,  came  to 
tell  the  poor  lady  of  the  sad  fate  of  her  husband  and  her 
pretty  babes.  She  could  scarcely  believe  him  at  first,  and 
was  eager  at  once  to  go  back  and  share  the  fate  of  her  dear 
ones ;  but  the  old  nurse  with  many  tears  besought  her  to  re- 
member that  she  had  still  a  child,  and  that  it  was  her  duty 
to  preserve  her  life  for  the  sake  of  the  poor  innocent. 

"  The  lady  yielded  to  this  reasoning  and  consented  to  re- 
main at  her  nurse's  house  as  the  best  place  of  concealment; 
for  the  servant  had  told  her  that  the  giant  had  vowed,  if  he 
could  find  her,  he  would  kill  both  her  and  her  baby.  Years 
rolled  on.  The  old  nurse  died,  leaving  her  cottage  and  the 
few  articles  of  furniture  it  contained  to  her  poor  lady,  who 
dwelt  in  it,  working  as  a  peasant  for  her  daily  bread.  Her 
epinning-wheel  and  the  milk  of  a  cow,  which  she  had  pur- 


JS  THE   RED    FAIRY    BOOK. 

«fcjisfcd  with  the  little  money  she  had  with  her,  sufficed  for 
the  scanty  subsistence  of  herself  and  her  little  son.  There 
was  a  nice  little  garden  attached  to  the  cottage,  in  which 
they  cultivated  peas,  beans,  and  cabbages,  and  the  lady  was 
not  ashamed  to  go  out  at  harvest  time,  and  glean  in  the  fields 
to  supply  her  little  son's  wants. 

"Jack,  that  poor  lady  is  your  mother.  This  castle  was 
once  your  father's,  and  must  again  be  yours." 

Jack  uttered  a  cry  of  surprise. 

"  My  mother !  Oh,  madam,  what  ought  I  to  do  ?  My  poor 
father !    My  dear  mother !  " 

"  Your  duty  requires  you  to  win  it  back  for  your  mother. 
But  the  task  is  a  very  difficult  one,  and  full  of  peril,  Jack. 
Have  you  the  courage  to  undertake  it  ? " 

"I  fear  nothing  when  I  am  doing  right,"  said  Jack. 

"  Then,"  said  the  lady  in  the  red  cap,  "  you  are  one  of 
those  who  slay  giants.  You  must  get  into  the  castle,  and  if 
possible  possess  yourself  of  a  hen  that  lays  golden  eggs,  and 
a  harp  that  talks.  Remember,  all  the  giant  possesses  is  really 
yours."  As  she  ceased  speaking,  the  lady  of  the  red  hat  sud- 
denly disappeared,  and  of  course  Jack  knew  she  was  a  fairy, 

Jack  determined  at  once  to  undertake  the  adventure;  so 
he  advanced  and  blew  the  horn  which  hung  at  the  castle  por- 
tal. The  door  was  opened  in  a  minute  or  two  by  a  frightful 
giantess,  with  one  great  eye  in  the  middle  of  her  forehead. 

As  soon  as  Jack  saw  her  he  turned  to  run  away,  but  she 
caught  him  and  dragged  him  into  the  castle. 

"  Ho,  ho ! "  she  laughed  terribly.  "  You  didn't  expect  to 
see  me  here,  that  is  clear!  No,  I  shan't  let  you  go  again.  I 
am  weary  of  my  life.  I  am  so  overworked,  I  don't  see 
why  I  should  not  have  a  page  as  well  as  other  ladies.  And 
you  shall  be  my  boy.  You  shall  clean  the  knives  and  black 
the  boots,  and  make  the  fires,  and  help  me  generally  when 
the  giant  is  out.  When  he  is  at  home  I  must  hide  you,  for 
he  has  eaten  up  all  my  pages,  hitherto,  and  you  would  be  a 
dainty  morsel,  my  little  lad." 

While  she  spoke  she  dragged  Jack  right  into  the  castle. 
The  poor  boy  was  very  much  frightened,  as  I  am  sure  you 
and  I  would  have  been  in  his  place.  But  he  remembered  that 
fear  disgraces  a  man;  so  he  struggled  to  be  brave  and  make 
the  best  of  things. 


THE   RED    FAIRY   BOOK. 


13< 


"I  am  quite  ready  to  help  you,  and  do  all  I  can  to  serve 
you,  madam,"  he  said,  "  only  I  beg  you  will  be  good  enougfc 
to  hide  me  from  your  husband,  for  I  should  not  like  to  bt 
eaten  at  all." 

"  That's  a  good  boy,"  said  the  giantess,  nodding  her  head; 
"  it  is  lucky  for  you  that  you    did  not  scream  out  when  you 


saw  me,  as  the  other  boys  who  have  been  here  did,  for  if  you 
had  done  so  my  husband  would  have  awakened  and  have 
eaten  you,  as  he  did  them,  for  breakfast.  Come  here,  child ; 
go  into  my  wardrobe:  he  never  ventures  to  open  that;  you 
will  be  safe  there." 

And  she  opened  a  huge  wardrobe  which  stood  in  the  great 
hall,  and  shut  him  into  it.     But  the  keyhole  was  so  large 


140  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

that  it  admitted  plenty  of  air,  and  he  could  see  everything 
that  took  place  through  it.  By  and  by  he  heard  a  heavy 
tramp  on  the  stairs,  like  the  lumbering  along  of  a  great  can- 
non, and  then  a  voice  like  thunder  cried  out : 

"  Fe,  fa,  fl-fo-fum, 
I  smell  the  breath  of  an  Englishman. 
Let  him  be  alive  or  let  him  be  dear* , 
I'll  grind  his  bones  to  make  my  bread." 

"Wife,"  cried  the  giant,  "there  is  a  man  in  the  castle. 
Let  me  have  him  for  breakfast." 

"  You  are  grown  old  and  stupid,"  cried  the  lady  in  her 
loud  tones.  "  It  is  only  a  nice  fresh  steak  off  an  elephant, 
that  I  have  cooked  for  you,  which  you  smell.  There,  sit 
down  and  make  a  good  breakfast." 

And  she  placed  a  huge  dish  before  him  of  savory  steaming 
meat,  which  greatly  pleased  him  and  made  him  forget  his 
idea  of  an  Englishman  being  in  the  castle.  When  he  had 
breakfasted  he  went  out  for  a  walk;  and  then  the  giantess 
opened  the  door,  and  made  Jack  come  out  to  help  her.  He 
helped  her  all  day.  She  fed  him  well,  and  when  evening 
came  put  him  back  in  the  wardrobe. 

THE  HEN  THAT  LAYS  GOLDEN  EGGS. 

The  giant  came  in  to  supper.  Jack  watched  him  through 
the  keyhole,  and  was  amazed  to  see  him  pick  a  wolf's  bone 
and  put  half  a  fowl  at  a  time  into  his  capacious  mouth. 

When  the  supper  was  ended  he  bade  his  wife  bring  him  his 
hen  that  laid  the  golden  eggs. 

"  It  lays  as  well  as  it  did  when  it  belonged  to  that  paltry 
knight,"  he  said ;  "  indeed,  I  think  the  eggs  are  heavier  than 
ever." 

The  giantess  went  away,  and  soon  returned  with  a  little 
brown  hen,  which  she  placed  on  the  table  before  her  husband. 
"  And  now,  my  dear,"  she  said,  "  I  am  going  for  a  walk,  if 
you  don't  want  me  any  longer." 

"  Go,"  said  the  giant ;  "  I  shall  be  glad  to  have  a  nap  by 
and  by." 

Then  he  took  up  the  brown  hen  and  said  to  her: 

"  Lay !  "    And  she  instantly  laid  a  golden  egg. 

"  Lay !  "  said  the  giant  again.    And  she  laid  another. 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  141 

"Lay!"  he  repeated  the  third  time.  And  again  a  goldem 
egg  lay  on  the  table. 

Now  Jack  was  sure  this  hen  was  that  of  which  the  fairy 
had  spoken. 

By  and  by  the  giant  put  the  hen  down  on  the  floor,  and 
soon  after  went  fast  asleep,  snoring  so  loud  that  it  sounded 
like  thunder. 

Directly  Jack  perceived  that  the  giant  was  fast  asleep,  he 
pushed  open  the  door  of  the  wardrobe  and  crept  out;  very 
softly  he  stole  across  the  room,  and,  picking  up  the  hen, 
made  haste  to  quit  the  apartment.  He  knew  the  way  to  the 
kitchen,  the  door  of  which  he  found  was  left  ajar;  he  opened 
it,  shut  and  locked  it  after  him,  and  flew  back  to  the  bean- 
stalk, which  he  descended  as  fast  as  his  feet  would  move. 

When  his  mother  saw  him  enter  the  house  she  wept  for 
joy,  for  she  had  feared  that  the  fairies  had  carried  him  away 
or  that  the  giant  had  found  him.  But  Jack  put  the  brown 
hen  down  before  her,  and  told  her  how  he  had  been  in  the 
giant's  castle,  and  all  his  adventures.  She  was  very  glad  to 
see  the  hen,  which  would  make  them  rich  once  more. 

THE  MONEY  BAGS. 

Jack  made  another  journey  up  the  beanstalk  to  the  giant's 
castle  one  day  while  his  mother  had  gone  to  market;  but 
first  he  dyed  his  hair  and  disguised  himself.  The  old 
woman  did  not  know  him  again,  and  dragged  him  in  as  she 
had  done  before  to  help  her  to  do  the  work;  but  she  heard 
her  husband  coming,  and  hid  him  in  the  wardrobe,  not 
thinking  that  it  was  the  same  boy  who  had  stolen  the  hen. 
She  bade  him  stay  quite  still  there,  or  the  giant  would  eat 
him. 

Then  the  giant  came  in,  saying: 

"  Fe,  fa,  fi-fo-fum, 
I  smell  the  breath  of  an  Englishman. 
Let  him  be  alive  or  let  him  be  dead, 
I'll  grind  his  bones  to  make  my  bread.'* 

"  Nonsense ! "  said  the  wife,  "  it  is  only  a  roasted  bullock 
that  I  thought  would  be  a  tit-bit  for  your  supper;  sit  down 
and  I  will  bring  it  up  at  once."  The  giant  sat  down,  and 
soon  his  wife  brought  up  a  roasted  bullock  on  a  large  dish, 


142  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

and  they  began  their  supper.  Jack  was  amazed  to  see  them 
pick  the  bones  of  the  bullock  as  if  it  had  been  a  lark.  As 
soon  as  they  had  finished  their  meal  the  giantess  rose  and 
said : 

"  JSTow,  my  dear,  with  your  leave  I  am  going  up  to  my 
room  to  finish  the  story  I  am  reading.  If  you  want  me  call 
for  me." 

"  First,"  answered  the  giant,  "  bring  me  my  money  bags, 
that  I  may  count  my  golden  pieces  before  I  sleep."  The 
giantess  obeyed.  She  went  and  soon  returned  with  two  large 
bags  over  her  shoulders,  which  she  put  down  by  her  hus- 
band. 

"  There,"  she  said :  "  that  is  all  that  is  left  of  the  knight's 
money.  When  you  have  spent  it  you  must  go  and  take  an- 
other baron's  castle." 

"  That  he  shan't,  if  I  can  help  it,"  thought  Jack. 

The  giant,  when  his  wife  was  gone,  took  out  heaps  and 
heaps  of  golden  pieces,  and  counted  them,  and  put  them  in 
piles,  till  he  was  tired  of  the  amusement.  Then  he  swept 
them  all  back  into  their  bags,  and  leaning  back  in  his  chair 
fell  fast  asleep,  snoring  so  loud  that  no  other  sound  was 
audible. 

Jack  stole  softly  out  of  the  wardrobe,  and  taking  up  the 
bags  of  money  (which  were  his  very  own,  because  the  giant 
had  stolen  them  from  his  father),  he  ran  off,  and  with 
great  difficulty  descending  the  beanstalk,  laid  the  bags  of 
gold  on  his  mother's  table.  She  had  just  returned  from 
town,  and  was  crying  at  not  finding  Jack. 

"  There,  mother,  I  have  brought  you  the  gold  that  my 
father  lost." 

"  Oh,  Jack !  you  are  a  very  good  boy,  but  I  wish  you  would 
not  risk  your  precious  life  in  the  giant's  castle.  Tell  me 
how  you  came  to  go  there  again." 

And  Jack  told  her  all  about  it. 

Jack's  mother  was  very  glad  to  get  the  money,  but  she  did 
not  like  him  to  run  any  risk  for  her. 

But  after  a  time  Jack  made  up  his  mind  to  go  again  t« 
the  giant's  castle. 


THE    RED    FAIRY   BOOK.  143 

THE  TALKING  HARP. 

So  he  climbed  the  beanstalk  once  more,  and  blew  the  horn 
at  the  giant's  gate.  The  giantess  soon  opened  the  door;  she 
was  very  stupid,  and  did  not  know  him  again,  but  she  stopped 
a  minute  before  she  took  him  in.  She  feared  another  rob- 
bery; but  Jack's  fresh  face  looked  so  innocent  that  she  could 
not  resist  him,  and  so  she  bade  him  come  in,  and  again  hid 
him  away  in  the  wardrobe. 

By  and  by  the  giant  came  home,  and  as  soon  as  he  had 
crossed  the  threshold  he  roared  out : 

"  Fe,  fa,  fi-fo-fnm, 
I  smell  the  breath  of  an  Englishman. 
Let  him  be  alive  or  let  him  be  dead, 
I'll  gx-ind  his  bones  to  make  my  bread." 

"You  stupid  old  giant,"  said  his  wife,  "you  only  smell  a 
nice  sheep,  which  I  have  grilled  for  your  dinner." 

And  the  giant  sat  down,  and  his  wife  brought  up  a  whole 
sheep  for  his  dinner.    When  he  had  eaten  it  all  up,  he  said : 

"Now  bring  me  my  harp,  and  I  will  have  a  little  music 
while  you  take  your  walk." 

The  giantess  obeyed  and  returned  with  a  beautiful  harp. 
The  framework  was  all  sparkling  with  diamonds  and  rubies, 
and  the  strings  were  all  of  gold. 

"  This  is  one  of  the  nicest  things  I  took  from  the  knight," 
said  the  giant.  "  I  am  very  fond  of  music,  and  my  harp  is  a 
faithful  servant." 

So  he  drew  the  harp  toward  him  and  said : 

"Play!" 

And  the  harp  played  a  very  soft,  sad  air. 

"  Play  something  merrier ! "  said  the  giant. 

And  the  harp  played  a  merry  tune. 

"  Now  play  me  a  lullaby,"  roared  the  giant ;  and  the  harp 
played  a  sweet  lullaby,  to  the  sound  of  which  its  master  fell 
asleep. 

Then  Jack  stole  softly  out  of  the  wardrobe,  and  went 
into  the  huge  kitchen  to  see  if  the  giantess  had  gone  out; 
he  found  no  one  there,  so  he  went  to  the  door  and  opened 
it  softly,  for  he  thought  he  could  not  do  so  with  the  harp  in 
his  hand. 

Then  h©  entered  the  giant's   room  and  seized  the  harp 


144 


THE   RED   FAIRY   BOOK. 


and  ran  away  with  it;  but  as  he  jumped  over  the  threshold 
the  harp  called: 

"  Master !     Master !  " 

And  the  giant  woke  up. 

With  a  tremendous  roar  he  sprang  from  his  seat,  and  in 
two  strides  had  reached  the  door. 

But  Jack  was  very  nimble.    He  fled  like  lightning  with  the 


harp,  talking  to  it  as  he  went  (for  he  saw  it  was  a  fairy), 
and  telling  it  he  was  the  son  of  its  old  master,  the  knight. 

Still  the  giant  came  on  so  fast  that  he  was  quite  close  to 
poor  Jack,  and  had  stretched  out  his  great  hand  to  catch 
him.  But,  luckily,  just  at  that  moment  he  stepped  upon  a 
loose  stone,  stumbled,  and  fell  flat  on  the  ground,  where  he 
lay  at  his  full  length. 

This  accident  gave  Jack  time  to  get  on  the  beanstalk  and 
hasten  down  it;  but  just  as  he  reached  their  own  garden  he 
beheld  the  giant  descending  after  him. 


THE  RED    FAIRY  BOOK.  145 

"  Mother !  mother !  "  cried  Jack,  "  make  haste  and  give 
me  the  ax." 

His  mother  ran  to  him  with  a  hatchet  in  her  hand,  and 
Jack  with  one  tremendous  blow  cut  through  all  the  bean- 
stalks except  one. 

"  Now,  mother,  stand  out  of  the  way !  "  said  he. 

THE  GIANT  BREAKS  HIS  NECK. 

Jack's  mother  shrank  back,  and  it  was  well  she  did  so, 
for  just  as  the  giant  took  hold  of  the  last  branch  of  the 
beanstalk,  Jack  cut  the  stem  quite  through  and  darted  from 
the  spot. 

Down  came  the  giant  with  a  terrible  crash,  and  as  he  fell 
on  his  head  he  broke  his  neck,  and  lay  dead  at  the  feet  of 
the  woman  he  had  so  much  injured. 

Before  Jack  and  his  mother  had  recovered  from  their 
alarm  and  agitation,  a  beautiful  lady  stood  before  them. 

u  Jack,"  said  she,  "  you  have  acted  like  a  brave  knight's 
son,  and  deserve  to  have  your  inheritance  restored  to  you. 
Dig  a  grave  and  bury  the  giant,  and  then  go  and  kill  the 
giantess." 

"  But,"  said  Jack,  "  I  could  not  kill  anyone  unless  I  were 
fighting  with  him;  and  I  could  not  draw  my  sword  upon  a 
woman.    Moreover,  the  giantess  was  very  kind  to  me." 

The  fairy  smiled  on  Jack. 

"  I  am  very  much  pleased  with  your  generous  feeling,"  she 
said.  "  Nevertheless,  return  to  the  castle,  and  act  as  you 
will  find  needful." 

Jack  asked  the  fairy  if  she  would  show  him  the  way  to  the 
castle,  as  the  beanstalk  was  now  down.  She  told  him  that 
she  would  drive  him  there  in  her  chariot,  which  was  drawn 
by  two  peacocks.  Jack  thanked  her,  and  sat  down  in  the 
chariot  with  her. 

The  fairy  drove  him  a  long  distance  round,  till  they 
reached  a  village  which  lay  at  the  bottom  of  the  hill.  Here 
they  found  a  number  of  miserable-looking  men  assembled. 
The  fairy  stopped  her  carriage  and  addressed  them. 

"  My  friends,"  said  she,  "  the  cruel  giant  who  oppressed 
you  and  ate  up  all  your  flocks  and  herds  is  dead,  and  this 
young  gentleman  was   the  means   of  your  being  delivered 


146 


THE   RED    FAIRY   BOOK. 


from  him,   and   is   the  son   of  your   kind   old  master,  the 
knight." 

The  men  gave  a  loud  cheer  at  these  words,  and  pressed 
forward  to  say  that  they  would  serve  Jack  as  faithfully  as 
they  had  served  his  father.     The  fairy  bade  them  follow  her 


to  the  castle,  and  they  marched  thither  in  a  body,  and  Jack 
blew  the  horn  and  demanded  admittance. 

The  old  giantess  saw  them  coming  from  the  turret  loop- 
hole. She  was  very  much  frightened,  for  she  guessed  that 
something  had  happened  to  her  husband;  and  as  she  came 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  147 

downstairs  very  fast  she  caught  her  foot  in  her  dress,  and 
fell  from  the  top  to  the  bottom  and  broke  her  neck. 

When  the  people  outside  found  that  the  door  was  not 
opened  to  them,  they  took  crowbars  and  forced  the  portal. 
Nobody  was  to  be  seen,  but  on  leaving  the  hall  they  found 
the  body  of  the  giantess  at  the  foot  of  the  stairs. 

Thus  Jack  took  possession  of  the  castle.  The  fairy  went 
and  brought  his  mother  to  him,  with  the  hen  and  the  harp. 
He  had  the  giantess  buried  and  endeavored  as  much  as  lay 
in  his  power  to  do  right  to  those  whom  the  giant  had  robbed. 

Before  her  departure  for  fairyland,  the  fairy  explained  to 
Jack  that  she  had  sent  the  butcher  to  meet  him  with  the 
beans,  in  order  to  try  what  sort  of  lad  he  was. 

"If  you  had  looked  at  the  gigantic  beanstalk  and  only 
stupidly  wondered  about  it,"  she  said,  "I  should  have  left 
you  where  misfortune  had  placed  you,  only  restoring  her  cow 
to  your  mother.  But  you  showed  an  #inquiring  mind,  a  great 
courage  and  enterprise,  therefore  you  deserve  to  rise;  and 
when  you  mounted  the  beanstalk  you  climbed  the  ladder  of 
fortune." 

She  then  took  her  leave  of  Jack  and  his  mother. 


THE  LITTLE  GOOD  MOUSE  * 

Once  upon  a  time  there  lived  a  king  and  queen  who  loved 
each  other  so  much  that  they  were  never  happy  unless  they 
were  together.  Day  after  day  they  went  out  hunting  or  fish- 
ing; night  after  night  they  went  to  balls  or  to  the  opera; 
they  sang,  and  danced,  and  ate  sugar-plums,  and  were  the 
gayest  of  the  gay,  and  all  their  subjects  followed  their  ex- 
ample, so  that  the  kingdom  was  called  the  Joyous  Land. 
Now,  in  the  next  kingdom  everything  was  as  different  as 
it  could  possibly  be.  The  king  was  sulky  and  savage,  and 
never  enjoyed  himself  at  all.  He  looked  so  ugly  and  cross 
that  all  his  subjects  feared  him,  and  he  hated  the  sight  of  a 
cheerful  face;  so  if  he  ever  caught  anyone  smiling  he  had 
his  head  cut  off  that  very  minute.  This  kingdom  was  very  ap- 
propriately called  the  Land  of  Tears.  Now  when  this  wicked 
king  heard  of  the  happiness  of  the  jolly  king,  he  was  so 
*  La  bonne  petite  Souris.    Par  Madame  d'Aulnoy 


148  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

jealous  that  he  collected  a  great  army  and  set  out  to  fight 
him,  and  the  news  of  his  approach  was  soon  brought  to  the 
king  and  queen.  The  queen,  when  she  heard  of  it,  was 
frightened  out  of  her  wits,  and  began  to  cry  bitterly.  "  Sire, 
she  said,  "  let  us  collect  all  our  riches  and  run  away  as  far 
as  ever  we  can,  to  the  other  side  of  the  world." 
But  the  king  answered: 

"  Fie,  madam !  I  am  far  too  brave  for  that.  It  is  better 
to  die  than  to  be  a  coward." 

Then  he  assembled  all  his  armed  men,  and  after  bidding 
the  queen  a  tender  farewell,  he  mounted  his  splendid  horse 
and  rode  away.  When  he  was  lost  to  sight  the  queen  could 
do  nothing  but  weep,  and  wring  her  hands,  and  cry: 

"Alas!  If  the  king  is  killed,  what  will  become  of  me 
and  of  my  little  daughter  ? "  and  she  was  so  sorrowful  that 
she  could  neither  eat  nor  sleep. 

The  king  sent  her  a  letter  every  day,  but  at  last,  one 
morning,  as  she  looked  out  of  the  palace  window,  she  saw  a 
messenger  approaching  in  hot  haste. 

"  What  news,  courier  ?  What  news  ?  "  cried  the  queen, 
and  he  answered : 

"  The  battle  is  lost,  and  the  king  is  dead,  and  in  another 
moment  the  enemy  will  be  here." 

The  poor  queen  fell  back  insensible,  and  all  her  ladies 
carried  her  to  bed,  and  stood  round  her  weeping  and  wailing. 
Then  began  a  tremendous  noise  and  confusion,  and  they 
knew  that  the  enemy  had  arrived,  and  very  soon  they  heard 
the  king  himself  stamping  about  the  palace  seeking  the 
queen.  Then  the  ladies  put  the  little  princess  into  her  arms, 
and  covered  her  up,  head  and  all,  in  the  bedclothes,  and  ran 
for  their  lives,  and  the  poor  queen  lay  there  shaking,  and 
hoping  she  would  not  be  found.  But  very  soon  the  wicked 
king  clattered  into  the  room,  and  in  a  fury  because  the 
queen  would  not  answer  when  he  called  to  her  he  tore  back 
her  silken  coverings  and  tweaked  off  her  lace  cap,  and  when 
all  her  lovely  hair  came  tumbling  down  over  her  shoulders, 
he  wound  it  three  times  round  his  hand  and  threw  her  over 
his  shoulder,  where  he  carried  her  like  a  sack  of  flour. 

The  poor  queen  held  her  little  daughter  safe  in  her  arms 
and  shrieked  for  mercy,  but  the  wicked  king  only  mocked 
her  and  begged  her  to  go  on  shrieking,  as  it  amused  him, 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  149 

and  so  mounted  his  great  black  horse  and  rode  back  to  his 
own  country.  When  he  got  there  he  declared  that  he  would 
have  the  queen  and  the  little  princess  hanged  on  the  nearest 
tree;  but  his  courtiers  said  that  seemed  a  pity,  for  when 
the  baby  grew  up  she  would  be  a  very  nice  wife  for  the  king's 
only  son. 

The  king  was  rather  pleased  with  this  idea,  and  shut  the 
queen  up  in  the  highest  room  of  a  tall  tower,  which  was 
very  tiny,  and  miserably  furnished  with  a  table  and  a  very 
hard  bed  upon  the  floor.  Then  he  sent  for  a  fairy  who  lived 
near  his  kingdom,  and  after  receiving  her  with  more  polite- 
ness than  he  generally  showed,  and  entertaining  her  at  a 
sumptuous  feast,  he  took  her  up  to  see  the  queen.  The  fairy 
was  so  touched  by  the  sight  of  her  misery  that  when  she 
kissed  her  hand  she  whispered: 

"  Courage,  madam !     I  think  I  see  a  way  to  help  you." 

The  queen,  a  little  comforted  by  these  words,  received  the 
graciously,  and  begged  her  to  take  pity  upon  the  poor  little 
princess,  who  had  met  with  such  a  sudden  reverse  of  for- 
tune. But  the  king  got  very  cross  when  he  saw  them 
whispering  together,  and  cried  harshly: 

"Make  an  end  of  these  fine  speeches,  madam.  I  brought 
you  here  to  tell  me  if  the  child  will  grow  up  pretty  and  for- 
tunate." 

Then  the  fairy  answered  that  the  princess  would  be  as 
pretty,  and  clever,  and  well  brought  up  as  it  was  possi- 
ble to  be,  and  the  old  king  growled  to  the  queen  that  it  was 
lucky  for  her  that  it  was  so,  as  they  would  certainly  have 
been  hanged  if  it  were  otherwise.  Then  he  stamped  off,  tak- 
ing the  fairy  with  him,  and  leaving  the  poor  queen  in  tears. 

"  How  can  I  wish  my  daughter  to  grow  up  pretty  if  she  is 
to  be  married  to  that  horrid  little  dwarf,  the  king's  son," 
she  said  to  herself,  "and  yet,  if  she  is  ugly  we  shall  both  be 
killed.  If  I  could  only  hide  her  away  somewhere,  so  that  the 
cruel  king  could  never  find  her." 

As  the  days  went  on  the  queen  and  the  little  princess  grew 
thinner  and  thinner,  for  their  hard-hearted  jailer  gave  them 
every  day  only  three  boiled  peas  and  a  tiny  morsel  of  black 
bread,  so  they  were  always  terribly  hungry. 

At  last,  one  evening  as  the  queen  sat  at  her  spinning- 
wheel — for  the  king  was  so  avaricious  that  she  was  made  to 


150  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

work  day  and  night — she  saw  a  tiny,  pretty  little  mouse  creep 
out  of  a  hole,  and  said  to  it: 

"Alas,  little  creature!  what  are  you  coming  to  look  for 
here?  I  have  only  three  peas  for  my  day's  provision,  so  un- 
less you  wish  to  fast,  you  must  go  elsewhere." 

But  the  mouse  ran  hither  and  thither,  and  danced  and  ca- 
pered so  prettily  that  at  last  the  queen  gave  it  her  last  pea, 
which  she  was  keeping  for  her  supper,  saying :  "  Here,  little 
one,  eat  it  up;  I  have  nothing  better  to  offer  you,  but  I  give 
this  willingly  in  return  for  the  amusement  I  have  had  from 
you." 

She  had  hardly  spoken  when  she  saw  upon  the  table  a 
delicious  little  roast  partridge,  and  two  dishes  of  preserved 
fruit.  "  Truly,"  said  she,  "  a  kind  action  never  goes  unre- 
warded " ;  and  she  and  the  little  princess  ate  their  supper  with 
great  satisfaction,  and  then  the  queen  gave  what  was  left 
to  the  little  mouse,  who  danced  better  than  ever  afterward. 
The  next  morning  came  the  jailer  with  the  queen's  allow- 
ance of  three  peas,  which  he  brought  in  upon  a  large  dish 
to  make  them  look  smaller;  but  as  soon  as  he  set  it  down 
the  little  mouse  came  and  ate  up  all  three,  so  that  when  the 
queen  wanted  her  dinner  there  was  nothing  left  for  her. 
Then  she  was  quite  provoked,  and  said: 

"  What  a  bad  little  beast  that  mouse  must  be !  If  it  goes  on 
like  this  I  shall  be  starved."  But  when  she  glanced  at  the 
dish  again  it  was  covered  with  all  sorts  of  nice  things  to  eat, 
and  the  queen  made  a  very  good  dinner,  and  was  gayer  than 
usual  over  it.  But  afterward,  as  she  sat  at  her  spinning- 
wheel  she  began  to  consider  what  would  happen  if  the  little 
princess  did  not  grow  up  pretty  enough  to  please  the  king, 
and  she  said  to  herself: 

"  Oh !    if  I  could  only  think  of  some  way  of  escaping." 

As  she  spoke  she  saw  the  little  mouse  playing  in  a  corner 
with  some  long  straws.  The  queen  took  them  and  began  to 
plait  them,  saying: 

"  If  I  only  had  straws  enough  I  would  make  a  basket  with 
them,  and  let  my  baby  down  in  it  from  the  window  to  any 
kind  passer-by  who  would  take  care  of  her." 

By  the  time  the  straws  were  all  plaited  the  little  mouse 
had  dragged  in  more  and  more,  until  the  queen  had  plenty 
to  make  her  basket,  and  she  worked  at  it  day  and  night, 


THE   RED    FAITCY    BOOK,  '' 

151 

while  the  little  mouse  danced  for  her  amusement;  and  at 
dinner  and  supper  time  the  queen  gave  it  the  three  peas  and 
the  bit  of  black  bread,  and  always  found  something  good  in 
the  dish  in  their  place.  She  really  could  not  imagine  where 
all  the  nice  things  came  from.  At  last  one  day  when  the 
basket  was  finished,  the  queen  was  looking  out  of  the  win- 
dow to  see  how  long  a  cord  she  must  make  to  lower  it  to  the 
bottom  of  the  tower,  when  she  noticed  a  little  old  woman 
who  was  leaning  on  her  stick  and  looking  up  at  her.  Pres- 
ently she  said: 

"  I  know  your  trouble,  madam.  If  you  like,  I  will  help 
you." 

"  Oh !  my  dear  friend,"  said  the  queen,  "  if  you  really 
wish  to  be  of  use  to  me  you  will  come  at  the  time  that  I  will 
appoint,  and  I  will  let  down  my  poor  little  baby  in  a  basket. 
If  you  will  take  her  and  bring  her  up  for  me,  when  I  am  rich 
I  will  reward  you  splendidly." 

"  I  don't  care  about  the  reward,"  said  the  old  woman,  "  but 
there  is  one  thing  I  should  like.  You  must  know  that  I  am 
very  particular  about  what  I  eat,  and  if  there  is  one  thing 
that  I  fancy  above  all  others,  it  is  a  plump,  tender  little 
mouse.  If  there  is  such  a  thing  in  your  garret  just  throw 
it  down  to  me,  and  in  return  I  will  promise  that  your  daugh- 
ter will  be  well  taken  care  of." 

The  queen,  when  she  heard  this,  began  to  cry,  but  made 
no  answer,  and  the  old  woman,  after  waiting  a  few  min- 
utes, asked  her  what  was  the  matter. 

"  Why,"  said  the  queen,  "  there  is  only  one  mouse  in  this 
garret,  and  that  is  such  a  dear,  pretty  little  thing  that  I 
cannot  bear  to  think  of  its  being  killed." 

"  What !  "  cried  the  old  woman,  in  a  rage.  "  Do  you  care 
more  for  a  miserable  mouse  than  for  your  own  baby?  Guod- 
by,  madam!  I  leave  you  to  enjoy  its  company,  and  for  m.y 
own  part  I  thank  my  stars  that  I  can  get  plenty  of  mice 
without  troubling  you  to  give  them  to  me." 

And  she  hobbled  off,  grumbling  and  growling.  As  to  the 
queen,  she  was  so  disappointed  that,  in  spite  of  finding  a 
better  dinner  than  usual,  and  seeing  the  little  mouse  danc- 
ing in  its  merriest  mood,  she  could  do  nothing  but  cry.  That 
night  when  the  baby  was  fast  asleep  she  packed  it  into  the 
basket,  and  wrote  on  a  slip  of  paper,  "  This  unhappy  little 


152  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

girl  is  called  Delicia ! "  This  she  pinned  to  its  robe,  and 
then  very  sadly  she  was  shutting  the  basket,  when  in  sprang 
the  little  mouse  and  sat  on  the  baby's  pillow. 

"  Ah !  little  one,"  said  the  queen,  "  it  cost  me  dear  to  save 
your  life.  How  shall  I  know  now  whether  my  Delicia  is  be- 
ing taken  care  of  or  no?  Anyone  else  would  have  let  the 
greedy  old  woman  have  you,  and  eat  you  up,  but  I  could  not 
bear  to  do  it."    Whereupon  the  mouse  answered : 

"  Believe  me,  madam,  you  will  never  repent  of  your  kind- 
ness." 

The  queen  was  immensely  astonished  when  the  mouse  be- 
gan to  speak,  and  still  more  so  when  she  saw  its  little  sharp 
nose  turn  to  a  beautiful  face,  and  its  paws  to  hands  and 
feet;  then  it  suddenly  grew  tall,  and  the  queen  recognized 
the  fairy  who  had  come  with  the  wicked  king  to  visit  her. 

The  fairy  smiled  at  her  astonished  look,  and  said: 

"  I  wanted  to  see  if  you  were  faithful  and  capable  of  feel- 
ing a  real  friendship  for  me,  for  you  see  we  fairies  are  rick 
in  everything  but  friends,  and  those  are  hard  to  find." 

"It  is  not  possible  that  you  should  want  for  friends,  you 
charming  creature,"  said  the  queen,  kissing  her. 

"  Indeed  it  is  so,"  the  fairy  said.  "  For  those  who  are  only 
friendly  with  me  for  their  own  advantage  I  do  not  count 
at  all.  But  when  you  cared  for  the  poor  little  mouse  you 
could  not  have  known  there  was  anything  to  be  gained  by  it, 
and  to  try  you  further  I  took  the  form  of  the  old  woman 
whom  you  talked  to  from  the  window,  and  then  I  was  con- 
vinced that  you  really  loved  me."  Then  turning  to  the  little 
princess,  she  kissed  her  rosy  lips  three  times,  saying : 

"  Dear  little  one,  I  promise  that  you  shall  be  richer  than 
your  father,  and  shall  live  a  hundred  years,  always  pretty 
and  happy,  without  fear  of  old  age  and  wrinkles." 

The  queen,  quite  delighted,  thanked  the  fairy  gratefully, 
and  begged  her  to  take  charge  of  the  little  Delicia  and 
bring  her  up  as  her  own  daughter.  This  she  agreed  to  do. 
and  then  they  shut  the  basket  and  lowered  it  carefully,  baby 
and  all,  to  the  ground  at  the  foot  of  the  tower.  The  fairy 
then  changed  herself  back  into  the  form  of  a  mouse,  and 
this  delayed  her  a  few  seconds,  after  which  she  ran  nimbly 
down  the  straw  rope,  but  only  to  find  when  she  got  to  the 
bottom  that  the  baby  had  disappeared. 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  153 

In  the  greatest  terror  she  ran  up  to  the  queen,  crying: 

"  All  is  lost !  my  enemy  Cancaline  has  stolen  the  princess 
away.  You  must  know  that  she  is  a  cruel  fairy  who  hates 
me,  and  as  she  is  older  than  I  am  and  has  more  power,  I  can 
do  nothing  against  her.  I  know  of  no  way  of  rescuing  De- 
licia  from  her  clutches." 

When  the  queen  heard  this  terrible  news  she  was  heart- 
broken, and  begged  the  fairy  to  do  all  she  could  to  get  the 
poor  little  princess  back  again.  At  this  moment  in  came  the 
jailer,  and  when  he  missed  the  little  princess  he  at  once  told 
the  king,  who  came  in  a  great  fury  asking  what  the  queen 
had  done  with  her,  She  answered  that  a  fairy,  whose  name 
she  did  not  know,  had  come  and  carried  her  off  by  force. 
Upon  this  the  king  stamped  upon  the  ground,  and  cried  in  a 
terrible  voice: 

"  You  shall  be  hung !  I  always  told  you  you  should." 
And  without  another  word  he  dragged  the  unlucky  queen 
out  into  the  nearest  wood,  and  climbed  up  into  a  tree  to  look 
for  a  branch  to  which  he  could  hang  her.  But  when  he  was 
quite  high  up,  the  fairy,  who  had  made  herself  invisible  and 
followed  them,  gave  him  a  sudden  push,  which  made  him  lose 
his  footing  and  fall  to  the  ground  with  a  crash  and  break 
four  of  his  teeth,  and  while  he  was  trying  to  mend  them  the 
fairy  carried  the  qaeen  off  in  her  flying  chariot  to  a  beautiful 
castle,  where  she  was  so  kind  to  her  that  but  for  the  loss 
of  Delicia  the  qaeen  would  have  been  perfectly  happy.  But 
though  the  good  little  mouse  did  her  very  utmost,  they  could 
not  find  out  where  Cancaline  had  hidden  the  little  princess. 

Thus  fifteen  years  went  by  and  the  queen  had  somewhat 
recovered  from  her  grief,  when  the  news  reached  her  that 
the  son  of  the  wicked  king  wished  to  marry  the  little  maiden 
who  kept  the  turkeys,  and  that  she  had  refused  him;  the 
wedding  dresses  had  been  made,  nevertheless,  and  the  festivi- 
ties were  to  be  so  splendid  that  all  the  people  for  leagues 
around  were  flocking  in  to  be  present  at  them.  The  queen 
felt  quite  curious  about  a  little  turkey-maiden  who  did  not 
wish  to  be  a  queen,  so  the  little  mouse  conveyed  herself  to 
the  poultry  yard  to  find  out  what  she  was  like. 

She  found  the  turkey-maiden  sitting  upon  a  big  stone, 
barefooted,  and  miserably  dressed  in  an  old  coarse  linen 
gown  and  cap;  the  ground  at  her  feet  was  all  strewn  with 


154  THE  RED  FAIRT  BOOK. 

robes  of  gold  and  silver,  ribbons  and  laces,  diamonds  and 
pearls,  over  which  the  turkeys  were  stalking  to  and  fro,  while 
the  king's  ugly,  disagreeable  son  stood  opposite  her,  declaring 
angrily  that  if  she  would  not  marry  him  she  should  be 
killed. 

The  turkey-maiden  answered  proudly: 

"  I  never  will  marry  you !  you  are  too  ugly  and  too  much 
like  your  cruel  father.  Leave  me  in  peace  with  my  turkeys, 
which  I  like  far  better  than  all  your  fine  gifts." 

The  little  mouse  watched  her  with  the  greatest  admira- 
tion, for  she  was  as  beautiful  as  the  spring;  and  as  soon  as 
the  wicked  prince  was  gone,  she  took  the  form  of  an  old 
peasant  woman  and  said  to  her: 

"  Good-day,  my  pretty  one !  you  have  a  fine  flock  of  tur- 
keys there." 

The  young  turkey-maiden  turned  her  gentle  eyes  upon 
the  old  woman  and  answered: 

"  Yet  they  wish  me  to  leave  them  to  become  a  miserable 
queen !    What  is  your  advice  upon  the  matter  ?  " 

"  My  child,"  said  the  fairy,  "  a  crown  is  a  very  pretty  thing, 
but  you  know  neither  the  price  nor  the  weight  of  it." 

"  I  know  so  well  that  I  have  refused  tc  wear  one,"  said  the 
little  maiden,  "  though  I  don't  know  who  was  my  father,  or 
who  was  my  mother,  and  I  have  not  a  fi-iend  in  the  world." 

"  You  have  goodness  and  beauty,  which  are  of  more  value 
than  ten  kingdoms,"  said  the  wise  fairy.  "  But  tell  me,  child, 
how  came  you  here,  and  how  is  it  you  have  neither  father, 
nor  mother,  nor  friend  ?  " 

"  A  fairy  called  Cancaline  is  the  cause  of  my  being  here," 
answered  she,  "  for  while  I  lived  with  her  I  got  nothing  but 
blows  and  harsh  words,  until  at  last  I  could  bear  it  no  longer, 
and  ran  away  from  her  without  knowing  where  I  was  going, 
and  as  I  came  through  a  wood  the  wicked  prince  met  me, 
and  offered  me  charge  of  the  poultry-yard.  I  accepted 
gladly,  not  knowing  that  I  should  have  to  see  him  day  by 
day.  And  now  he  wants  to  marry  me,  but  that  I  will  never 
consent  to." 

Upon  hearing  this  the  fairy  became  convinced  that  the 
little  turkey-maiden  was  none  other  than  the  Princess  De- 
licia. 

"  What  is  your  name,  my  little  one  ? "  said  she. 


THE   RED    FAIRY    BOOK. 


155 


"  I  am  called  Delicia,  if  it  please  you,"  she  answered. 

Then  the  fairy  threw  her  arms  round  the  princess'  neck, 
and  nearly  smothered  her  with  kisses,  saying: 

"  Ah,  Delicia !  I  am  a  very  old  friend  of  yours,  and  I  am 
truly  glad  to  find  you  at  last ;  but  you  might  look  nicer  than 
you  do  in  that  old  gown,  which  is  only  fit  for  a  kitchen  maid. 


Take  this  pretty  dress  and  let  us  see  the  difference  it  will 
make." 

So  Delicia  took  off  the  ugly  cap  and  shook  out  all  her  fair 
shining  hair,  and  bathed  her  hands  and  face  in  clear  water 
from  the  nearest  spring  till  her  cheeks  were  like  roses,  and 
when  she  was  adorned  with  the  diamonds  and  the  splendid 
robe  which  the  fairy  had  given  her,  she  looked  the  most 
beautiful  princess  in  the  world,  and  the  fairy  with  great 
delight  cried : 


156  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

"Now  you  look  as  you  ought  to  look,  Delicia:  wkat  do 
you  think  about  it  yourself  ?  " 

And  Delicia  answered: 

"  I  feel  as  if  I  were  the  daughter  of  some  great  king." 

"  And  would  you  be  glad  if  you  were  { "  said  the  fairy. 

"  Indeed  I  should,"  answered  she. 

"  Ah,  well,  said  the  fairy,  "  to-morrow  I  may  have  some 
pleasant  news  for  you." 

So  she  hurried  back  to  her  castle,  where  the  queen  sat  busy 
with  her  embroidery,  and  cried: 

"  Well,  madam !  will  you  wager  your  thimble  and  your 
golden  needle  that  I  am  bringing  you  the  best  news  you 
could  possibly  hear  ?  " 

"  Alas ! "  sighed  the  queen,  "  since  the  death  of  the  jolly 
king  and  the  loss  of  my  Delicia,  all  the  news  in  the  world  is 
not  worth  a  pin  to  me." 

"  There,  there,  don't  be  melancholy,"  said  the  fairy.  "  I 
assure  you  the  princess  is  quite  well,  and  I  have  never  seen 
her  equal  for  beauty.  She  might  be  a  queen  to-morrow  if  she 
chose " ;  and  then  she  told  all  that  had  happened,  and  the 
queen  first  rejoiced  over  the  thought  of  Delicia's  beauty,  and 
then  wept  at  the  idea  of  her  being  a  turkey-maiden. 

"I  will  not  hear  of  her  being  made  to  marry  the  wicked 
king's  son,"  she  said.  "Let  us  go  at  once  and  bring  her 
here." 

In  the  meantime  the  wicked  prince,  who  was  very  angry 
with  Delicia,  had  sat  himself  down  under  a  tree,  and  cried 
and  howled  with  rage  and  spite  until  the  king  heard  him, 
and  cried  out  from  the  window : 

"  What  is  the  matter  with  you,  that  you  are  making  all 
this  disturbance  ? " 

The  prince  replied: 

"  It  is  all  because  that  turkey-maiden  of  ours  will  not  love 
me!" 

"  Won't  love  you,  eh  ?  "  said  the  king.  "  We'll  see  about 
that ! "  So  he  called  his  guards  and  told  them  to  go  and 
fetch  Delicia.  "  See  if  I  don't  make  her  change  her  mind 
pretty  soon !  "  said  the  wicked  king,  with  a  chuckle. 

Then  the  guards  began  to  search  the  poultry-yard,  and 
could  find  nobody  there  but  Delicia,  who,  with  her  splendid 
dress,  and  her  crown  of  diamonds,  looked  such  a  lovely 


THE   RED   FAIRY    BOOK. 


157 


princess  that  they  hardly  dared  to  speak  to  her.  But  she  said 
to  them  very  politely: 

"  Pray  tell  me  what  you  are  looking  for  here  ? " 

" Madam,"  they  answered,  "we  are  sent  for  an  insignifi- 
cant little  person  called  Delicia." 

"  Alas !  "  said  she,  "  that  is  my  name.  What  can  you  want 
with  me  ? " 

So  the  guards  tied  her  hands  and  feet  with  thick  ropes, 
for  fear  she  might  run  away,  and  brought  her  to  the  king, 
who  was  waiting  with  his  son. 

When  he  saw  her  he  was  very  much  astonished  at  her 


beauty,  which  would  have  made  anyone  less  hard-hearted 
sorry  for  her.  But  the  wicked  king  only  laughed  and  mocked 
at  her,  and  cried :  "  Well,  little  fright,  little  toad !  why  don't 
you  love  my  son,  who  is  far  too  handsome  and  too  good  for 
you?  Make  haste  and  begin  to  love  him  this  instant,  or 
you  shall  be  tarred  and  feathered." 

Then  the  poor  little  princess,  shaking  with  terror,  went 
down  on  her  knees,  crying: 

"  Oh,  don't  tar  and  feather  me,  please !  It  would  be  so 
uncomfortable.  Let  me  have  two  or  three  days  to  make  up 
my  mind,  and  then  you  shall  do  as  you  like  with  me." 


158  THE  KED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

The  wicked  prince  would  have  liked  very  much  to  see  her 
tarred  and  feathered,  but  the  king  ordered  that  she  should  be 
shut  up  in  a  dark  dungeon.  It  was  just  at  this  moment  that 
the  queen  and  the  fairy  arrived  in  the  flying  chariot,  and  the 
queen  was  dreadfully  distressed  at  the  turn  affairs  had  taken, 
and  said  miserably,  that  she  was  destined  to  be  unfortunate 
all  her  days.     But  the  fairy  bade  her  take  courage. 

"  I'll  pay  them  out  yet,"  said  she,  nodding  her  head  with 
an  air  of  great  determination. 

That  very  same  night,  as  soon  as  the  wicked  king  had 
gone  to  bed,  the  fairy  changed  herself  into  the  little  mouse, 
and  creeping  up  on  to  his  pillow  nibbled  his  ear,  so  that  he 
squealed  out  quite  loudly  and  turned  over  on  his  other  side; 
but  that  was  no  good,  for  the  little  mouse  only  set  to  work 
and  gnawed  away  at  the  second  ear  until  it  hurt  more  than 
the  first  one. 

Then  the  king  cried  "  Murder !  "  and  "  Thieves !  "  and  all 
his  guards  ran  out  to  see  what  was  the  matter,  but  they 
could  find  nothing  and  nobody,  for  the  little  mouse  had  run 
off  to  the  prince's  room  and  was  serving  him  in  exactly  the 
same  way.  All  night  long  she  ran  from  one  to  the  other, 
until  at  last,  driven  quite  frantic  by  terror  and  want  of 
sleep,  the  king  rushed  out  of  the  palace  crying: 

"  Help !  help !  I  am  pursued  by  rats." 

The  prince  when  he  heard  this,  got  up  also,  and  ran  after 
the  king,  and  they  had  not  gone  far  when  they  both  fell  into 
the  river  and  were  never  heard  of  again. 

Then  the  good  fairy  ran  to  tell  the  queen,  and  they  went 
together  to  the  black  dungeon  where  Delicia  was  imprisoned. 
The  fairy  touched  each  door  with  her  wand,  and  it  sprang 
open  instantly,  but  they  had  to  go  through  forty  before  they 
came  to  the  princess,  who  was  sitting  on  the  floor  looking 
very  dejected.  But  when  the  queen  rushed  in  and  kissed 
her  twenty  times  in  a  minute,  and  laughed,  and  cried,  and 
told  Delicia  all  her  history,  the  princess  was  wild  with  de- 
light. Then  the  fairy  showed  her  all  the  wonderful  dresses 
and  jewels  she  had  brought  for  her,  and  said : 

"  Don't  let  us  waste  time ;  we  must  go  and  harangue  the 
people." 

So  she  walked  first,  looking  very  serious  and  dignified,  and 
wearing  a  dress  the  train  of  which  was  at  least  ten  ells  long. 


THE  RED  FAIEY  BOOK.  159 

Behind  her  came  the  queen  wearing  a  blue  velvet  robe  em- 
broidered with  gold,  and  a  diamond  crown  that  was  brighter 
than  the  sun  itself.  Last  of  all  walked  Delicia,  who  was  so 
beautiful  that  it  was  nothing  short  of  marvelous. 

They  proceeded  through  the  streets,  returning  the  saluta- 
tions of  all  they  met,  great  or  small,  and  all  the  people 
turned  and  followed  them,  wondering  who  these  noble  ladies 
could  be. 

When  the  audience  hall  was  quite  full,  the  fairy  said  to 
the  subjects  of  the  wicked  king  that  if  they  would  accept  De- 
licia, who  was  the  daughter  of  the  jolly  king,  as  their  queen, 
she  would  undertake  to  find  a  suitable  husband  for  her,  and 
would  promise  that  during  their  reign  there  should  be  noth- 
ing but  rejoicing  and  merry-making,  and  all  dismal  things 
should  be  entirely  banished.  Upon  this  the  people  cried 
with  one  accord:  "We  will,  we  will!  we  have  been  gloomy 
and  miserable  too  long  already."  And  they  all  took  hands 
and  danced  around  the  queen,  and  Delicia,  and  the  good 
fairy,  singing :    "  Yes,  yes ;  we  will,  we  will !  " 

Then  there  were  feasts  and  fireworks  in  every  street  in  the 
town,  and  early  the  next  morning  the  fairy,  who  had  been 
all  over  the  world  in  the  night,  brought  back  with  her,  in  her 
flying  chariot,  the  most  handsome  and  good-tempered  prince 
she  could  find  anywhere.  He  was  so  charming  that  De- 
licia loved  him  from  the  moment  their  eyes  met,  and  as  for 
him,  of  course  he  could  not  help  thinking  himself  the  luckiest 
prince  in  the  world.  The  queen  felt  that  she  had  really  come 
to  the  end  of  her  misfortunes  at  last,  and  they  all  lived  hap- 
pily ever  after. 

GKACIOSA  AND  PERCINET  * 

Once  upon  a  time  there  lived  a  king  and  queen  who  had 
one  charming  daughter.  She  was  so  graceful  and  pretty  and 
clever  that  she  was  called  Graciosa,  and  the  queen  was  so 
fond  of  her  that  she  could  think  of  nothing  else. 

Every  day  she  gave  the  princess  a  lovely  new  frock  of  gold 
brocade,  or  satin,  or  velvet,  and  when  she  was  hungry  she 
had  bowls  full  of  sugar  plums,  and  at  least  twenty  pots  of 

*  Cracieuse  et  Percinet.    Madame  d'Aulnoy. 


160 


THE    RED    FAIRY    BOOK. 


jam.  Everybody  said  she  was  the  happiest  princess  in  the 
world.  Now  there  lived  at  this  same  court  a  rich  old  duchess 
whose  name  was  Grumbly.  She  was  more  frightful  than 
tongue  can  tell ;  her  hair  was  red  as  fire,  and  she  had  but  one 
eye,  and  that  not  a  pretty  one !  Her  face  was  as  broad  as  a 
full  moon,  and  her  mouth  was  so  large  that  everybody  who 
met  her  would  have  been  afraid  they  were  going  to  be  eaten 
up,  only  she  had  no  teeth.  As  she  was  as  cross  as  she  was 
ugly,  she  could  not  bear  to  hear  anyone  saying  how  pretty 
and  how  charming  Graciosa  was;  so  she  presently  went  away 
from  the  court  to  her  own  castle,  which  was  not  far  off.  But 
if  anybody  who  went  to  see  her  happened  to  mention  the 
charming  princess,  she  would  cry  angrily: 

"  It's  not  true  that  she  is  lovely.  I  have  more  beauty  in 
my  little  finger  than  she  has  in  her  whole  body." 

Soon  after  this,  to  the  great  grief  of  the  princess,  the 


queen  was  taken  ill  and  died,  and  the  king  became  so  mel- 
ancholy that  for  a  whole  year  he  shut  himself  up  in  his 
palace.  At  last,  his  physicians,  fearing  that  he  would  fall 
ill,  ordered  that  he  should  go  out  and  amuse  himself;  so  a 
hunting  party  was  arranged,  but  as  it  was  very  hot  weather 
the  king  soon  got  tired,  and  said  he  would  dismount  and  rest 
at  a  castle  which  they  were  passing. 

This  happened  to  be  the  Duchess  Grumbly's  castle,  and 
when  she  heard  that  the  king  was  coming  she  went  ou*  to 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  161 

meet  him,  and  said  that  the  cellar  was  the  coolest  place 
in  the  whole  castle,  if  he  would  condescend  to  come  down 
into  it.  So  down  they  went  together,  and  the  king  seeing 
about  two  hundred  great  casks  ranged  side  by  side,  asked  if 
it  was  for  herself  that  she  had  this  immense  store  of  wine. 

"  Yes,  sire,"  answered  she,  "  it  is  for  myself  alone,  but  I 
shall  be  most  happy  to  let  you  taste  some  of  it.  Which  do 
you  like,  canary,  St.  Julien,  champagne,  hermitage,  sack, 
raisin,  or  cider  ?  " 

"  Well,"  said  the  king,  "  since  you  are  so  kind  as  to  ask 
me,  I  prefer  champagne  to  anything  else." 

Then  Duchess  Grumbly  took  up  a  little  hammer  and 
tapped  upon  the  cask  twice,  and  out  came  at  least  a  thou- 
sand crowns. 

"  What  is  the  meaning  of  this  ? "  said  she,  smiling. 

Then  she  tapped  the  next  cask,  and  out  came  a  bushel 
of  gold  pieces. 

"  I  don't  understand  this  at  all,"  said  the  duchess,  smiling 
more  than  before. 

Then  she  went  on  to  the  third  cask,  tap,  tap,  and  out  came 
such  a  stream  of  diamonds  and  pearls  that  the  ground  was 
covered  with  them. 

"  Ah ! "  she  cried,  "  this  is  altogether  beyond  my  compre- 
hension, sire.  Someone  must  have  stolen  my  good  wine  and 
put  all  this  rubbish  in  its  place." 

"Kubbish,  do  you  call  it,  Madam  Grumbly?"  cried  the 
king.  "Kubbish!  why,  there  is  enough  there  to  buy  ten 
kingdoms." 

"  Well,"  said  she,  "  you  must  know  that  all  those  casks  are 
full  of  gold  and  jewels,  and  if  you  like  to  marry  me  it  shall 
all  be  yours." 

Now  the  king  loved  money  more  than  anything  else  in 
the  world,  so  he  cried  joyfully: 

"Marry  you?  why,  with  all  my  heart!  to-morrow  if  you 
like." 

"  But  I  make  one  condition,"  said  the  duchess ;  "  I  must 
have  entire  control  of  your  daughter,  to  do  as  I  please  with 
her." 

"  Oh,  certainly,  you  shall  kave  your  own  way;  let  us  shake 
hands  upon  the  bargain,"  said  the  king. 

So  they  shook  hands  and  went  up  out  of  the  cellar  of 


162  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

treasure  together,  and  the  duchess  locked  the  door  and  gave 
the  key  to  the  king. 

When  he  got  back  to  his  own  palace  Graciosa  ran  out  to 
meet  him,  and  asked  if  he  had  had  good  sport. 

"  I  have  caught  a  dove,"  answered  he. 

"  Oh !  do  give  it  to  me,"  said  the  princess,  "  and  I  will 
keep  it  and  take  care  of  it." 

"  I  can  hardly  do  that,"  said  he,  "  for,  to  speak  more 
plainly,  I  mean  that  I  met  the  Duchess  Grumbly,  and  have 
promised  to  marry  her." 

"  And  you  call  her  a  dove  ? "  cried  the  princess,  "  I  should 
have  called  her  a  screech-owl." 

"  Hold  your  tongue,"  said  the  king  very  crossly.  "  I  intend 
you  to  behave  prettily  to  her.  So  now  go  and  make  yourself 
fit  to  be  seen,  for  I  am  going  to  take  you  to  visit  her." 

So  the  princess  went  very  sorrowfully  to  her  own  room, 
and  her  nurse  seeing  her  tears,  asked  what  was  vexing  her. 

"  Alas !  who  would  not  be  vexed  ?  "  answered  she,  "  for  the 
king  intends  to  marry  again,  and  has  chosen  for  his  new 
bride  my  enemy,  the  hideous  Duchess  Grumbly." 

"  Oh,  well !  "  answered  the  nurse,  "  you  must  remember 
that  you  are  a  princess,  and  are  expected  to  set  a  good  ex- 
ample in  making  the  best  of  whatever  happens.  You  must 
promise  me  not  to  let  the  duchess  see  how  much  you  dis- 
like her." 

At  first  the  princess  would  not  promise,  but  the  nurse 
showed  her  so  many  good  reasons  for  it  that  in  the  end 
she  agreed  to  be  amiable  to  her  stepmother. 

Then  the  nurse  dressed  her  in  a  robe  of  pale  green  and 
gold  brocade,  and  combed  out  her  long  fair  hair  until  it 
floated  round  her  like  a  golden  mantle,  and  put  on  her  head 
a  crown  of  roses  and  jasmine  with  emerald  leaves. 

When  she  was  ready  nobody  could  have  been  prettier,  but 
she  still  could  not  help  looking  sad. 

Meanwhile  the  Duchess  Grumbly  was  also  occupied  in  at- 
tiring herself.  She  had  one  of  her  shoe  heels  made  an  inch 
or  so  higher  than  the  other,  so  that  she  might  not  limp  so 
much,  and  put  in  a  cunningly  made  glass  eve  in  the  place 
of  the  one  she  had  lost.  She  dyed  her  red  hair  black,  and 
painted  her  face.  Then  she  put  on  a  gorgeous  robe  of  lilac 
satin,  lined  with  blue,  and  a  yellow  petticoat  trimmed  with 


THE  KED  FAIRY  BOOK.  163 

violet  ribbons,  and  because  she  had  heard  that  queens  always 
rode  into  their  new  dominions,  she  ordered  a  horse  to  be 
made  ready  for  her  to  ride. 

While  Graciosa  was  waiting  until  the  king  should  be  ready 
to  set  out,  she  went  down  all  alone  through  the  garden  into 
a  little  wood,  where  she  sat  down  upon  a  mossy  bank  and  be- 
gan to  think.  And  her  thoughts  were  so  doleful  that  very 
soon  she  began  to  cry,  and  she  cried,  and  cried,  and  forgot 
all  about  going  back  to  the  palace,  until  she  suddenly  saw 
a  handsome  page  standing  before  her.  He  was  dressed  in 
green,  and  the  cap  which  he  held  in  his  hand  was  adorned 
with  white  plumes.  When  Graciosa  looked  at  him  he  went 
down  on  one  knee  and  said  to  her: 

"  Princess,  the  king  awaits  you." 

The  princess  was  surprised,  and,  if  the  truth  must  be 
told,  very  much  delighted  at  the  appearance  of  this  charm- 
ing page,  whom  she  could  not  remember  to  have  seen  be- 
fore. Thinking  he  might  belong  to  the  household  of  the 
duchess,  she  said : 

"  How  long  have  you  been  one  of  the  king's  pages  ? " 

"  I  am  not  in  the  service  of  the  king,  madam,"  answered 
he,  "but  in  yours." 

"  In  mine  ?  "  said  the  princess,  with  great  surprise.  "  Then 
how  is  it  that  I  have  never  seen  you  before  ? " 

"  Ah,  princess !  "  said  he,  "  I  have  never  before  dared  to 
present  myself  to  you,  but  now  the  king's  marriage  threatens 
you  with  so  many  dangers  that  I  have  resolved  to  tell  you 
at  once  how  much  I  love  you  already,  and  I  trust  that  in 
time  I  may  win  your  regard.  I  am  Prince  Percinet,  of  whose 
riches  you  may  have  heard,  and  whose  fairy  gift  will,  I  hope, 
be  of  use  to  you  in  all  your  difficulties,  if  you  will  permit 
me  to  accompany  you  under  this  disguise." 

"  Ah,  Percinet !  "  cried  the  princess,  "  is  it  really  you  ?  I 
have  so  often  heard  of  you  and  wished  to  see  you.  If  you 
will  indeed  be  my  friend,  I  shall  not  be  afraid  of  that  wicked 
old  duchess  any  more." 

They  went  back  to  the  palace  together,  and  there  Graciosa 
found  a  beautiful  horse  which  Percinet  had  brought  for  her 
to  ride.  As  it  was  very  spirited,  he  led  it  by  the  bridle,  and 
this  arrangement  enabled  him  to  turn  and  look  at  the  prin- 
cess often,  which  he  did  not  fail  to  do.    Indeed,  she  was  so 


164  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOR. 

pretty  that  it  was  a  real  pleasure  to  look  at  her.  When  th« 
horse  which  the  duchess  was  to  ride  appeared  beside  Gra- 
ciosa's  it  looked  no  better  than  an  old  cart  horse,  and  as  to 
their  trappings,  there  was  simply  no  comparison  between 
them,  as  the  princess'  saddle  and  bridle  were  one  glittering 
mass  of  diamonds.  The  king  had  so  many  other  things  to 
think  of  that  he  did  not  notice  this,  but  all  of  his  courtiers 
were  entirely  taken  up  with  admiring  the  princess  and  her 
charming  page  in  green,  who  was  more  handsome  and  dis- 
tinguished-looking than  all  the  rest  of  the  court  put  to- 
gether. 

When  they  met  the  Duchess  Grumbly  she  was  seated  in 
an  open  carriage,  trying  in  vain  to  look  dignified.  The  king 
and  the  princess  saluted  her,  and  her  horse  was  brought 
forward  for  her  to  mount.  But  when  she  saw  Graciosa's 
she  cried  angrily: 

"  If  that  child  is  to  have  a  better  horse  than  mine,  I  will 
go  back  to  my  own  castle  this  very  minute.  What  is  the 
good  of  being  a  queen  if  one  is  to  be  slighted  like  this  ? " 

Upon  this  the  king  commanded  Graciosa  to  dismount  and 
to  beg  the  duchess  to  honor  her  by  mounting  her  horse.  The 
princess  obeyed  in  silence,  and  the  duchess,  without  looking 
at  her  or  thanking  her,  scrambled  up  upon  the  beautiful 
horse,  where  she  sat  looking  like  a  bundle  of  clothes,  and 
eight  officers  had  to  hold  her  up  for  fear  she  should  fall  off. 

Even  then  she  was  not  satisfied,  and  was  still  grumbling 
and  muttering,  so  they  asked  her  what  was  the  matter. 

"  I  wish  that  page  in  green  to  come  and  lead  the  horse,  as 
he  did  when  Graciosa  rode  it,"  she  said  very  sharply. 

And  the  king  ordered  the  page  to  come  and  lead  the 
queen's  horse.  Percinet  and  the  princess  looked  at  one  an- 
other, but  said  never  a  word,  and  then  he  did  as  the  king 
commanded,  and  the  procession  started  in  great  pomp.  The 
duchess  was  greatly  elated,  and  as  she  sat  there  in  state, 
would  not  have  wished  to  change  places  even  with  Graciosa. 
But  at  the  moment  when  it  was  least  expected,  the  beauti- 
ful horse  began  to  plunge  and  rear  and  kick,  and,  finally,  to 
run  away  at  such  a  pace  that  it  was  impossible  to  stop  him. 

At  first  the  duchess  clung  to  the  saddle,  but  she  was  very 
soon  thrown  off  and  fell  in  a  heap  among  the  stones  and 
thorns,  and  there  they  found  her,  shaken  to  a  jelly,  and  col- 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  165 

lected  what  was  left  of  her  as  if  she  had  been  a  broken 
glass.  Her  bonnet  was  here  and  her  shoes  there,  her  face 
was  scratched  and  her  fine  clothes  were  covered  with  mud. 
Never  was  a  bride  in  such  a  dismal  plight.  They  carried 
her  back  to  the  palace  and  put  her  to  bed,  but  as  soon  as 
she  recovered  enough  to  be  able  to  speak,  she  began  to  scold 
and  rage,  and  declared  that  the  whole  affair  was  Graciosa's 
fault,  that  she  had  contrived  it  on  purpose  to  try  and  get  rid 
of  her,  and  that  if  the  king  would  not  have  her  punished, 
she  would  go  back  to  her  castle  and  enjoy  her  riches  by  her- 
self. 

At  this  the  king  was  terribly  frightened,  for  he  did  not 
want  to  lose  all  those  barrels  of  gold  and  jewels.  So  he  has- 
tened to  appease  the  duchess,  and  told  her  she  might  punish 
Graciosa  in  any  way  she  pleased. 

Thereupon  she  sent  for  Graciosa,  who  turned  pale  and 
trembled  at  the  summons,  for  she  guessed  that  it  promised 
nothing  agreeable  for  her.  She  looked  all  about  for  Percinet 
but  he  was  nowhere  to  be  seen;  so  she  had  no  choice  but  to 
go  to  the  Duchess  Grumbly's  room.  She  had  hardly  got  in- 
side the  door  when  she  was  seized  by  four  waiting-women, 
who  looked  so  tall  and  strong  and  cruel  that  the  princess 
shuddered  at  the  sight  of  them,  and  still  more  when  she  saw 
them  arming  themselves  with  great  bundles  of  rods,  and 
heard  the  duchess  call  out  to  them  from  her  bed  to  beat  the 
princess  without  mercy.  Poor  Graciosa  wished  miserably 
that  Percinet  could  only  know  what  was  happening  and 
come  to  rescue  her.  But  no  sooner  did  they  begin  to  beat 
her  than  she  found,  to  her  great  relief,  that  the  rods  had 
changed  to  bundles  of  peacock's  feathers,  and  though  the 
duchess'  women  went  on  until  they  were  so  tired  that  they 
could  no  longer  raise  their  arms  from  their  sides,  yet  she 
was  not  hurt  in  the  least.  However,  the  duchess  thought 
she  must  be  black  and  blue  after  such  a  beating;  so  Gra- 
ciosa, when  she  was  released,  pretended  to  feel  very  bad,  and 
went  away  into  her  own  room,  where  she  told  her  nurse  all 
that  had  happened,  and  then  the  nurse  left  her,  and  when  the 
princess  turned  round  there  stood  Percinet  beside  her.  She 
thanked  him  gratefully  for  helping  her  so  cleverly,  and  they 
laughed  and  were  very  merry  over  the  way  they  had  taken 
in  the  duchess  and  her  waiting-maids;  but  Percinet  advised 


166  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

her  still  to  pretend  to  be  ill  for  a  few  days,  and  after  prom- 
ising to  come  to  her  aid  whenever  she  needed  him,  he  dis- 
appeared as  suddenly  as  he  had  come. 

The  duchess  was  so  delighted  at  the  idea  that  Graciosa 
was  really  ill  that  she  herself  recovered  twice  as  fast  as  she 
would  have  done  otherwise,  and  the  wedding  was  held  with 
great  magnificence.  Now  as  the  king  knew  that,  above  all 
other  things,  the  queen  loved  to  be  told  that  she  was  beau- 
tiful, he  ordered  that  her  portrait  should  be  painted,  and 
that  a  tournament  should  be  held,  against  which  all  the 
bravest  knights  of  his  court  should  maintain  against  all 
comers  that  Grumbly  was  the  most  beautiful  princess  in  all 
the  world. 

Numbers  of  knights  came  from  far  and  wide  to  accept 
the  challenge,  and  the  hideous  queen  sat  in  great  state  in 
a  balcony  hung  with  cloth  of  gold,  to  watch  the  contests, 
and  Graciosa  had  to  stand  up  behind  her,  where  her  love- 
liness was  so  conspicuous  that  the  combatants  could  not 
keep  their  eyes  off  her.  But  the  queen  was  so  vain  that  she 
thought  all  their  admiring  glances  were  for  herself,  espe- 
cially as,  in  spite  of  the  badness  of  their  cause,  the  king's 
knights  were  so  brave  that  they  were  the  victors  in  every 
combat. 

However,  when  nearly  all  the  strangers  had  been  defeated, 
a  young  unknown  knight  presented  himself.  He  carried  a 
portrait,  inclosed  in  a  box  incrusted  with  diamonds,  and  he 
declared  himself  willing  to  maintain  against  them  all  that 
the  queen  was  the  ugliest  creature  in  the  world,  and  that 
the  princess  whose  portrait  he  carried  was  the  most  beau- 
tiful. 

So  one  by  one  the  knights  came  out  against  him,  and  one 
by  one  he  vanquished  them  all,  and  then  he  opened  the  box, 
and  said  that,  to  console  them,  he  would  show  them  the  por- 
trait of  his  queen  of  beauty,  and  when  he  did  so,  everyone 
recognized  the  Princess  Graciosa.  The  unknown  knight 
then  saluted  her  gracefully  and  retired,  without  telling  his 
name  to  anybody.  But  Graciosa  had  no  difficulty  in  guess- 
ing that  it  was  Percinet. 

As  to  the  queen,  she  was  so  furiously  angry  that  she 
could  hardly  speak;  but  she  soon  recovered  her  voice,  and 
overwhelmed  Graciosa  with  a  torrent  of  reproaches. 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  167 

"  What ! "  she  said,  "  do  you  dare  to  dispute  with  me  for 
the  prize  of  beauty,  and  expect  me  to  endure  this  insult  to 
my  knights?  But  I  will  not  bear  it,  proud  princess.  I  will 
have  my  revenge." 

"  I  assure  you,  madam,"  said  the  princess,  "  that  I  had 
nothing  to  do  with  it  and  am  quite  willing  that  you  shall 
be  declared  queen  of  beauty." 

"  Ah !  you  are  pleased  to  jest,  popinjay ! "  said  the  queen, 
"  but  it  will  be  my  turn  soon!  " 

The  king  was  speedily  told  what  had  happened,  and  how 
the  princess  was  in  terror  of  the  angry  queen,  but  he  only 
said: 

"  The  queen  must  do  as  she  pleases.  Graciosa  belongs  to 
her!" 

The  wicked  queen  waited  impatiently  until  night  fell,  and 
then  she  ordered  her  carriage  to  be  brought.  Graciosa,  much 
against  her  will,  was  forced  into  it,  and  away  they  drove, 
and  never  stopped  until  they  reached  a  great  forest  a  hun- 
dred leagues  from  the  palace.  This  forest  was  so  gloomy 
and  so  full  of  lions,  tigers,  bears,  and  wolves,  that  nobody 
dared  pass  through  it  even  by  daylight,  and  here  they  set 
down  the  unhappy  princess  in  the  middle  of  the  black  night, 
and  left  her  in  spite  of  all  her  tears  and  entreaties.  The 
princess  stood  quite  still  at  first  from  sheer  bewilderment, 
but  when  the  last  sound  of  the  retreating  carriages  died 
away  in  the  distance,  she  began  to  run  aimlessly  hither  and 
thither,  sometimes  knocking  herself  against  a  tree,  some- 
times tripping  over  a  stone,  fearing  every  minute  that  she 
would  be  eaten  up  by  the  lions.  Presently  she  was  too  tired 
to  advance  another  step,  so  she  threw  herself  down  upon  the 
ground  and  cried  miserably: 

"  Oh,  Percinet !  where  are  you  ?  Have  you  forgotten  me 
altogether?" 

She  had  hardly  spoken  when  all  the  forest  was  lighted  up 
with  a  sudden  glow.  Every  tree  seemed  to  be  sending  out 
a  soft  radiance,  which  was  clearer  than  moonlight  and  softer 
than  daylight,  and  at  the  end  of  a  long  avenue  of  trees  op- 
posite to  her  the  princess  saw  a  palace  of  clear  crystal  which 
blazed  like  the  sun.  At  that  moment  a  slight  sound  behind 
her  made  her  start  round,  and  there  stood  Percinet  himself. 

"Did  I  frighten  you,  my  princess?"  said  he.     "I  come 


168 


THE    BED    FAIKY    BOOK. 


to  bid  you  welcome  to  our  fairy  palace  in  the  name  of  the 
queen,  my  mother,  who  is  prepared  to  love  you  as  much  as 
I  do."  The  princess  joyfully  mounted  with  him  into  a  little 
sledge  drawn  by  two  stags,  which  bounded  off  and  drew  them 
swiftly  to  the  wonderful  palace,  where  the  queen  received 
her  with  the  greatest  kindness,  and  a  splendid  banquet  was 
served  at  once.  Graciosa  was  so  happy  to  have  found  Per- 
cinet,  and  to  have  escaped  from  the  gloomy  forest  and  all 
its  terrors,  that  she  was  very  hungry  and  very  merry,  and 
they  were  a  gay  party.  After  supper  they  went  into  another 
lovely  room,  where  the  crystal  walls  were  covered  with  pic- 
tures,  and  the  princess  saw  with  great  surprise  that  her 


own  history  was  represented,  even  down  to  the  moment  when 
Percinet  found  her  in  the  forest. 

"  Your  painters  must  indeed  be  diligent,"  she  said,  point- 
ing out  the  last  picture  to  the  prince. 

"  They  are  obliged  to  be,  for  I  will  not  have  anything  for- 
gotten that  happens  to  you,"  he  answered. 

When  the  princess  grew  sleepy,  twenty-four  charming 
maidens  put  her  to  bed  in  the  prettiest  room  she  had  ever 
seen,  and  then  sang  to  her  so  sweetly  that  Graciosa's  dreams 
were  all  of  mermaids,  and  cool  sea  waves,  and  caverns,  in 


THE    RED    FAIRY    BOOK.  169 

which  she  wandered  with  Percinet;  but  when  she  woke  up 
again  her  first  thought  was  that,  delightful  as  this  fairy  pal- 
ace seemed  to  her,  yet  she  could  not  stay  in  it,  but  must 
go  back  to  her  father.  When  she  had  been  dressed  by  the 
twenty-four  maidens  in  a  charming  robe  which  the  queen 
had  sent  fur  her,  and  in  which  she  looked  prettier  than  ever. 
Prince  Percinet  came  to  see  her,  and  was  bitterly  disap- 
pointed when  she  told  him  what  she  had  been  thinking.  He 
begged  her  to  consider  again  how  unhappy  the  wicked  queen 
would  make  her,  and  how,  if  she  would  but  marry  him,  all 
the  fairy  palace  would  be  hers,  and  his  one  thought  would 
be  to  please  her.  But,  in  spite  of  everything  he  could  say, 
the  princess  was  quite  determined  to  go  back,  though  he  at 
last  persuaded  her  to  stay  eight  days,  which  were  so  full  of 
pleasure  and  amusement  that  they  passed  like  a  few  hours. 
On  the  last  day,  Graciosa,  who  had  often  felt  anxious  to 
know  what  was  going  on  in  her  father's  palace,  said  to  Per- 
cinet that  she  was  sure  that  he  could  find  out  for  her,  if  he 
would,  what  reason  the  queen  had  given  her  father  for  her 
sudden  disappearance.  Percinet  at  first  offered  to  send  his 
courier  to  find  out,  but  the  princess  said : 

"  Oh !  Is  there  not  some  quicker  way  of  knowing  than 
that?" 

"Very  well,"  said  Percinet,  "you  shall  see  for  yourself." 

So  up  they  went  together  to  the  top  of  a  very  high  tower, 
which,  like  the  rest  of  the  castle,  was  built  entirely  of  rock- 
crystal. 

There  the  prince  held  Graciosa's  hand  in  his,  and  made 
her  put  the  tip  of  her  little  finger  into  her  mouth,  and  look 
toward  the  town,  and  immediately  she  saw  the  wicked  queen 
go  to  the  king,  and  heard  her  say  to  him:  "  That  miserable 
princess  is  dead,  and  no  great  loss,  either.  I  have  ordered 
that  she  shall  be  buried  at  once." 

And  then  the  princess  saw  how  she  dressed  up  a  log  of 
wood  and  had  it  buried,  and  how  the  old  king  cried,  and  all 
the  people  murmured  that  the  queen  had  killed  Graciosa 
with  her  cruelties,  and  that  she  ought  to  have  her  head  cut 
off.  When  the  princess  saw  that  the  king  was  so  sorry  for 
her  pretended  death  that  he  could  neither  eat  nor  d»*;nk,  sh© 
cried : 

"Ah,  Percinet!  take  me  back  quickly  if  you  love  me." 


170  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

And  so,  though  he  did  not  want  to  at  all,  he  was  obliged 
to  promise  that  he  would  let  her  go. 

"  You  may  not  regret  me,  princess,"  he  said  sadly,  "  for  I 
fear  that  you  do  not  love  me  well  enough ;  but  I  foresee  that 
you  will  more  than  once  regret  that  you  left  this  fairy  palace 
where  we  have  been  so  happy." 

But,  in  spite  of  all  he  could  say,  she  bade  farewell  to  the 
queen,  his  mother,  and  prepared  to  set  out;  so  Percinet,  very 
unwillingly,  brought  the  little  sledge  with  the  stags  and  she 
mounted  beside  him.  But  they  had  hardly  gone  twenty 
yards  when  a  tremendous  noise  behind  her  made  Graciosa 
look  back,  and  she  saw  the  palace  of  crystal  fly  into  a  million 
splinters,  like  the  spray  of  a  fountain,  and  vanish. 

"  Oh,  Percinet !  "  she  cried,  "  what  has  happened  ?  The 
palace  is  gone." 

"Yes,"  he  answered,  "my  palace  is  a  thing  of  the  past; 
you  will  see  it  again,  but  not  until  after  you  have  been 
buried." 

"  Now  you  are  angry  with  me,"  said  Graciosa  in  her  most 
coaxing  voice,  "though  after  all  I  am  more  to  be  pitied 
than  you  are." 

When  they  got  near  the  palace  the  prince  made  the  sledge 
and  themselves  invisible,  so  the  princess  got  in  unobserved, 
and  ran  up  to  the  great  hall  where  the  king  was  sitting  all 
by  himself.  At  first  he  was  very  much  startled  by  Gra- 
ciosa's  sudden  appearance,  but  she  told  him  how  the  queen 
had  left  her  out  in  the  forest,  and  how  she  had  caused  a  log 
of  wood  to  be  buried.  The  king,  who  did  not  know  what  to 
think,  sent  quickly  and  had  it  dug  up,  and,  sure  enough, 
it  was  as  the  princess  had  said.  Then  he  caressed  Gra- 
ciosa and  made  her  sit  down  to  supper  with  him,  and  they 
were  as  happy  as  possible.  But  someone  had  by  this  time 
told  the  wicked  queen  that  Graciosa  had  come  back,  and  was 
at  supper  with  the  king,  and  in  she  flew  in  a  terrible  fury. 
The  poor  old  king  quite  trembled  before  her,  and  when  she 
declared  that  Graciosa  was  not  the  princess  at  all,  but  a 
wicked  impostor,  and  that  if  the  king  did  not  give  her  up 
at  once  she  would  go  back  to  her  own  castle  and  never  see 
him  again,  he  had  not  a  word  to  say,  and  really  seemed  to 
believe  it  was  not  Graciosa  after  all.  So  the  queen  in  great 
triumph  sent  for  her  waiting-women,  who  dragged  the  un- 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  171 

happy  princess  away  and  shut  her  up  in  a  garret;  they  took 
away  all  her  jewels  and  her  pretty  dress,  and  gave  her  a 
rough  cotton  frock,  wooden  shoes,  and  a  little  cloth  cap. 
There  was  some  straw  in  a  corner,  which  was  all  she  had 
for  a  bed,  and  they  gave  her  a  very  little  bit  of  black  bread 
to  eat.  In  this  miserable  plight  Graciosa  did  indeed  regret 
the  fairy  palace,  and  she  would  have  called  Percinet  to  her 
aid,  only  she  felt  sure  he  was  still  vexed  with  her  for  leav- 
ing him,  and  thought  that  she  could  not  expect  him  to  come. 

Meanwhile  the  queen  had  sent  for  an  old  fairy  as  mali- 
cious as  herself,  and  said  to  her: 

"  You  must  find  me  some  task  for  this  fine  princess  which 
she  cannot  possibly  do,  for  I  mean  to  punish  her,  and  if  she 
does  not  do  what  I  order,  she  will  not  be  able  to  say  that  I 
am  unjust."  So  the  old  fairy  said  she  would  think  it  over, 
and  come  again  the  next  day.  When  she  returned  she 
brought  with  her  a  skein  of  thread  three  times  as  big  as  her- 
self;  it  was  so  fine  that  a  breath  of  air  would  break  it,  and 
so  tangled  that  it  was  impossible  to  see  the  beginning  or  the 
end  of  it. 

The  queen  sent  for  Graciosa,  and  said  to  her: 

"  Do  you  see  this  skein  ?  Set  your  clumsy  fingers  w  work 
upon  it,  for  I  must  have  it  disentangled  by  sunset,  and  if 
you  break  a  single  thread  it  will  be  the  worse  for  you."  So 
saying  she  left  her,  locking  the  door  behind  her  with  three 
keys. 

The  princess  stood  dismayed  at  the  sight  of  the  terrible 
skein.  If  she  did  but  turn  it  over  to  see  where  to  begin, 
she  broke  a  thousand  threads,  and  not  one  could  she  disen- 
tangle. At  last  she  threw  it  into  the  middle  of  the  floor,  cry- 
ing: 

"  Oh,  Percinet !  this  fatal  skein  will  be  the  death  of 
me  if  you  will  not  forgive  me  and  help  me  once  more." 

And  immediately  in  came  Percinet  as  easily  as  if  he  had 
all  the  keys  in  his  own  possession. 

"Here  I  am,  princess,  as  much  as  ever  at  your  service,", 
said  he,  "  though  really  you  are  not  very  kind  to  me." 

Then  he  just  stroked  the  skein  with  his  wand,  and  all  +he 
broken  threads  joined  themselves  together,  and  the  whole 
skein  wound  itself  smoothly  off  in  the  most  surprising  man- 
ner, and  the  prince,  turning  to  Graciosa,  asked  if  there  was 


172 


THE   RED    FJLIRY   BOOK. 


nothing  else  that  she  wished  him  to  do  for  her,  and  if  the 
time  would  never  come  when  she  would  wish  for  him  for  his 
own  sake. 

"  Don't  be  vexed  with  me,  Percinet,"  she  said.  "  I  am  un- 
happy enough  without  that." 

"  But  why  should  you  be  unhappy,  my  princess  ?  "  cried  he. 
"  Only  come  with  me  and  we  shall  be  as  happy  as  the  day  is 
long  together." 

"  But  suppose  you  get  tired  of  me  ?  "  said  Graciosa. 

The  prince  was  so  grieved  at  this  want  of  confidence  that 
he  left  her  without  another  word. 

The  wicked  queen  was  in  such  a  hurry  to  punish  Graciosa 
that  she  thought  the  sun  would  never  set ;  and  indeed  it  was 


before  the  appointed  time  that  she  came  with  her  four  fairies 
and  as  she  fitted  the  three  keys  into  the  locks  she  said: 

"  I'll  venture  to  say  that  the  idle  minx  has  not  done  any- 
thing at  all — she  prefers  to  sit  with  her  hands  before  her 
to  keep  them  white."  r 

But  as  soon  as  she  entered  Graciosa  presented  her  with  the 
ball  of  thread  in  perfect  order,  so  that  she  had  no  fault  to 
find,  and  could  only  pretend  to  discover  that  it  was  soiled, 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  173 

for  which  imaginary  fault  she  gave  Graciosa  a  blow  on  each 
cheek,  that  made  her  white-and-pink  skin  turn  green  and 
yellow.  And  then  she  sent  her  back  to  be  locked  into  the 
garret  once  more. 

Then  the  queen  sent  for  the  fairy  again  and  scolded  her 
furiously.  "Don't  make  such  a  mistake  again;  find  me 
something  that  it  will  be  quite  impossible  for  her  to  do,"  she 
said. 

So  the  next  day  the  fairy  appeared  with  a  huge  barrel  full 
of  the  feathers  of  all  sorts  of  birds.  There  were  nightin- 
gales, canaries,  goldfinches,  linnets,  tomtits,  parrots,  owls, 
sparrows,  doves,  ostriches,  bustards,  peacocks,  larks,  par- 
tridges, and  everything  else  that  you  can  think  of.  These 
feathers  were  all  mixed  up  in  such  confusion  that  the  birds 
themselves  could  not  have  chosen  out  their  own.  "  Here," 
said  the  fairy,  "  is  a  little  task  which  it  will  take  all  your 
prisoner's  skill  and  patience  to  accomplish.  Tell  her  to  pick 
out  and  lay  in  a  separate  heap  the  feathers  of  each  bird.  She 
would  need  to  be  a  fairy  to  do  it." 

The  queen  was  more  than  delighted  at  the  thought  of  the 
despair  this  task  would  cause  the  princess.  She  sent 
for  her,  and  with  the  same  threats  as  before  locked  her  up 
with  the  three  keys,  ordering  that  all  the  feathers  should  be 
sorted  by  sunset.  Graciosa  set  to  work  at  once,  but  before 
she  had  taken  out  a  dozen  feathers  she  found  it  was  per- 
fectly impossible  to  know  one  from  another. 

"  Ah !  well,"  she  sighed,  "  the  queen  wishes  to  kill  me,  and 
if  I  must  die,  I  must.  I  cannot  ask  Percinet  to  help  me  again, 
for  if  he  really  loved  me  he  would  not  wait  till  I  called  him, 
he  would  come  without  that." 

"  I  am  here,  my  Graciosa,"  cried  Percinet,  springing  out 
of  the  barrel,  where  he  had  been  hiding.  "How  can  you 
still  doubt  that  I  love  you  with  all  my  heart  ? " 

Then  he  gave  three  strokes  of  his  wand  upon  the  barrel, 
and  all  the  feathers  flew  out  in  a  cloud  and  settled  down  in 
neat  little  separate  heaps  all  round  the  room. 

"  What  should  I  do  without  you,  Percinet  ? "  said  Gra- 
ciosa gratefully.  Still  she  could  not  quite  make  up  her  mind 
to  go  with  him  and  leave  her  father's  kinardom  forever;  so 
she  begged  him  to  give  her  more  time  to  think  of  it,  and  he 
had  to  go  away  disappointed  once  more. 


174  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

When  the  wicked  queen  came  at  sunset  she  was  amazed 
and  infuriated  to  find  the  task  done.  However,  she  com- 
plained that  the  heaps  of  feathers  were  badly  arranged,  and 
for  that  the  princess  was  beaten  and  sent  back  to  her  garret. 
Then  the  queen  sent  for  the  fairy  once  more,  and  scolded 
her  until  she  was  fairly  terrified,  and  promised  to  go  home 
and  think  of  another  task  for  Graciosa,  worse  than  either 
of  the  others. 

At  the  end  of  three  days  she  came  again,  bringing  with 
her  a  box. 

"  Tell  your  slave,"  said  she,  "  to  carry  this  wherever  you 
please,  but  on  no  account  to  open  it.  She  will  not  be  able 
to  help  doing  so,  and  then  you  will  be  quite  satisfied  with  the 
result."     So  the  queen  came  to  Graciosa  and  said: 

"  Carry  this  box  to  my  castle  and  place  it  on  the  table 
in  my  own  room.  But  I  forbid  you,  on  pain  of  death,  to 
look  at  what  it  contains." 

Graciosa  set  out,  wearing  her  little  cap  and  wooden  shoes, 
and  the  old  cotton  frock,  but  even  in  this  disguise  she  was 
so  beautiful  that  all  the  passers-by  wondered  who  she  could 
be.  She  had  not  gone  far  before  the  heat  of  the  sun  and  the 
weight  of  the  box  tired  her  so  much  that  she  sat  down  to 
rest  in  the  shade  of  a  little  wood  which  lay  on  one  side  of 
a  green  meadow.  She  was  carefully  holding  the  box  on  her 
lap  when  suddenly  she  felt  the  greatest  desire  to  open  it. 

"  What  could  possibly  happen  if  I  did  ? "  she  said  to  her- 
self. "I  should  not  take  anything  out.  I  should  only  just 
see  what  was  there." 

And  without  further  hesitation  she  lifted  the  cover. 

Instantly  out  came  swarms  of  little  men  and  women,  no 
taller  than  her  finger,  and  scattered  themselves  all  over  the 
meadow,  singing  and  dancing,  and  playing  the  merriest 
games,  so  that  at  first  Graciosa  was  delighted,  and  watched 
them  with  much  amusement.  But  presently,  when  she  was 
rested  and  wished  to  go  on  her  way,  she  found  that,  do  what 
she  would,  she  could  not  get  them  back  into  their  box.  If  she 
chased  them  in  the  meadow  they  fled  into  the  wood,  and  if 
she  pursued  them  into  the  wood  they  dodged  round  trees  and 
behind  sprigs  of  moss,  and  with  peals  of  elfin  laughter  scam- 
pered back  again  into  the  meadow. 

At  last,  weary  and  terrified,  she  sat  down  and  cried. 


THE   RED    FAIRY   BOOK. 


175 


"It  is  my  own  fault,"  she  said  sadly.  "Percinet,  if  you 
can  still  care  for  such  an  imprudent  princess,  do  come  and 
help  me  once  more." 

Immediately  Percinet  stood  before  her. 

"  Ah,  Princess !  "  he  said,  "  but  for  the  wicked  queen  I  fear 
you  would  never  think  of  me  at  all." 

"  Indeed  I  should,"  said  Graciosa ;  "lam  not  so  ungrate- 
ful as  you  think.  Only  wait  a  little  and  I  believe  I  shall 
love  you  quite  dearly." 

Percinet  was  pleased  at  this,  and  with  one  stroke  of  his 
wand  compelled  all  the  willful  little  people  to  come  back  to 


their  places  in  the  box,  and  then  rendering  the  princess  in- 
visible he  took  her  with  him  in  his  chariot  to  the  castle. 

When  the  princess  presented  herself  at  the  door,  and  said 
that  the  queen  had  ordered  her  to  place  the  box  in  her  own 
room,  the  governor  laughed  heartily  at  the  idea. 

"  No,  no,  my  little  shepherdess,"  said  he,  "  that  is  not  the 
place  for  you.  No  wooden  shoes  have  ever  been  over  that 
floor  yet." 


176  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

Then  Graciosa  begged  him  to  give  her  a  written  message 
telling  the  ueen  that  he  had  refused  to  admit  her.  This  he 
did,  and  she  went  back  to  Percinet,  who  was  waiting  for  her, 
and  they  set  out  together  for  the  palace.  You  may  imagine 
that  they  did  not  go  the  shortest  way,  but  the  princess  did 
not  find  it  too  long,  and  before  they  parted  she  had  promised 
that  if  the  queen  was  still  cruel  to  her,  and  tried  again  to 
play  her  any  spiteful  trick,  she  would  leave  her  and  come 
to  Percinet  forever. 

When  the  queen  saw  her  returning  she  fell  upon  the  fairy, 
whom  she  had  kept  with  her,  and  pulled  her  hair  and 
scratched  her  face,  and  would  really  have  killed  her  if  a 
fairy  could  be  killed.  And  when  the  princess  presented  the 
letter  and  the  box  she  threw  them  both  upon  the  fire  with- 
out opening  them,  and  looked  very  much  as  if  she  would 
like  to  throw  the  princess  after  them.  However,  what  she 
really  did  do  was  to  have  a  great  hole  as  deep  as  a  well  dug 
in  her  garden,  and  the  top  of  it  covered  with  a  flat  stone. 
Then  she  went  out  and  walked  near  it,  and  said  to  Graciosa 
and  all  her  ladies  who  were  with  her: 

"  I  am  told  that  a  great  treasure  lies  under  that  stone :  let 
us  see  if  we  can  lift  it." 

They  all  began  to  push  and  pull  at  it,  and  Graciosa  among 
the  others,  which  was  just  what  the  queen  wanted;  for  as 
soon  as  the  stone  was  lifted  high  enough  she  gave  the  prin- 
cess a  push  which  sent  her  down  to  the  bottom  of  the  well, 
and  then  the  stone  was  let  fall  again,  and  there  she  was, 
a  prisoner.  Graciosa  felt  that  now  indeed  she  was  hopelessly 
lost;  surely  not  even  Percinet  could  find  her  in  the  heart  of 
the  earth. 

"  This  is  like  being  buried  alive,"  she  said  with  a  shudder. 
"  Oh,  Percinet !  if  you  only  knew  how  I  am  suffering  for  my 
want  of  trust  in  you!  But  how  could  I  be  sure  that  you 
would  not  be  like  other  men  and  tire  of  me  from  the  mo- 
ment you  were  sure  I  loved  you  ? " 

As  she  spoke  she  suddenly  saw  a  little  door  open,  and  the 
sunshine  blazed  into  the  dismal  well.  Graciosa  did  not  hesi- 
tate an  instant,  but  passed  through  into  a  charming  garden. 
Flowers  and  fruit  grew  on  every  side,  fountains  plashed,  and 
birds  sang  in  the  branches  overhead,  and  when  she  reached 
a  great  avenue  of  trees  and  looked  up  to  see  where  it  would 


THE  RED  FAIEY  BOOK.  177 

lead  her,  she  found  herself  close  to  the  palace  of  crystal. 
Yes!  there  was  no  mistaking  it,  and  the  queen  and  Per- 
cinet  were  coming  to  meet  her. 

44  Ah,  princess ! "  said  the  queen,  "  don't  keep  this  poor 
Percinet  in  suspense  any  longer.  You  little  guess  the  anxi- 
ety he  has  suffered  while  you  were  in  the  power  of  that  mis- 
erable queen." 

The  princess  kissed  her  gratefully,  and  promised  to  do  as 
she  wished  in  everything,  and  holding  out  her  hand  to  Per- 
cinet, with  a  smile,  she  said: 

"  Do  you  remember  telling  me  that  I  should  not  see  your 
palace  again  until  I  had  been  buried?  I  wonder  if  you 
guessed  then  that  when  that  happened  I  should  tell  you  that 
I  love  you  with  all  my  heart,  and  will  marry  you  whenever 
you  like?" 

Prince  Percinet  joyfully  took  the  hand  that  was  given 
him,  and,  for  fear  the  princess  should  change  her  mind, 
the  wedding  was  held  at  once,  with  the  greatest  splendor, 
and  Graciosa  and  Percinet  lived  happily  ever  after. 


THE   THREE   PRINCESSES   OF   WHITELAND* 

There  was  once  upon  a  time  a  fisherman  who  lived  hard  by 
a  palace,  and  fished  for  the  king's  table.  One  day  he  was  out 
fishing,  but  caught  nothing  at  all.  Let  him  do  what  he  might 
with  rod  and  line,  there  was  never  even  so  much  as  a  sprat 
upon  his  hook;  but  when  the  day  was  well-nigh  over  a  head 
rose  up  out  of  the  water  and  said: 

"  If  you  will  give  me  what  your  wife  shows  you  when  you 
go  home,  you  shall  catch  fish  enough." 

So  the  man  said  "  Yes  "  in  a  moment,  and  then  he  caught 
fish  in  plenty;  but  when  he  got  home  at  night,  and  his  wife 
showed  him  a  baby  which  had  just  been  born,  and  fell 
a-weeping  and  wailing  when  he  told  her  of  the  promise  which 
he  had  given,  he  was  very  unhappy. 

All  this  was  soon  told  to  the  king  up  at  the  palace,  and 
when  he  heard  what  sorrow  the  woman  was  in,  and  the  rea- 
son of  it,  he  said  that  he  himself  would  take  the  child  and 

*From  J.  Moe. 


178  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

see  if  he  could  not  save  it.  The  baby  was  a  boy,  and  the  king 
took  him  at  once  and  brought  him  up  as  his  own  son  until 
the  lad  grew  up.  Then  one  day  he  begged  to  have  leave  to 
go  out  with  his  father  to  fish;  he  had  a  strong  desire  to  do 
this,  he  said.  The  king  was  very  unwilling  to  permit  it,  but 
at  last  the  lad  got  leave.  He  stayed  with  his  father,  and 
all  went  prosperously  and  well  with  them  the  whole  day, 
until  they  came  back  to  land  in  the  evening.  Then  the  lad 
found  that  he  had  lost  his  pocket-handkerchief,  and  would 
go  out  in  the  boat  after  it ;  but  no  sooner  had  he  got  into  the 
boat  than  it  began  to  move  off  with  him  so  quickly  that  the 
water  foamed  all  round  about,  and  all  that  the  lad  did  to 
keep  the  boat  back  with  the  oars  was  done  to  no  purpose, 
for  it  went  on  and  on  the  whole  night  through,  and  at 
last  he  came  to  a  white  strand  that  lay  far,  far  away. 
There  he  landed,  and  when  he  had  walked  on  for  some  dis- 
tance he  met  an  old  man  with  a  long  white  beard. 

"  What  is  the  name  of  this  country  ? "  said  the  youth. 

"Whiteland,"  answered  the  man,  and  then  he  begged  the 
youth  to  tell  him  whence  he  came,  and  what  he  was  going  to 
do,  and  the  youth  did  so. 

"  Well,  then,"  said  the  man,  "  if  you  walk  on  further  along 
the  seashore  here,  you  will  come  to  three  princesses  who  are 
standing  in  the  earth  so  that  their  heads  alone  are  out  of 
it.  Then  the  first  of  them  will  call  you — she  is  the  eldest — 
and  will  beg  you  very  prettily  to  come  to  her  and  help  her, 
and  the  second  will  do  the  same,  but  you  must  not  go  near 
either  of  them.  Hurry  past,  as  if  you  neither  saw  nor  heard 
them;  but  you  shall  go  to  the  third  and  do  what  she  bids 
you;  it  will  bring  you  good  fortune." 

When  the  youth  came  to  the  first  princess  she  called  to 
him  and  begged  him  to  come  to  her  very  prettily,  but  he 
walked  on  as  if  he  did  not  even  see  her,  and  he  passed  by  the 
second  in  the  same  way,  but  he  went  up  to  the  third. 

"  If  thou  wilt  do  what  I  tell  thee,  thou  shalt  choose  among 
us  three,"  said  the  princess. 

So  the  lad  said  that  he  was  most  willing,  and  she  told  him 
that  three  trolls  had  planted  them  all  three  there  in  the 
earth,  but  formerly  they  had  dwelt  in  the  castle  which  he 
could  see  at  some  distance  in  the  wood. 

"  Now,"  she  said,  "  thou  shalt  go  into  the  castle,  and  let 


THE   RED    FAIRY    BOOK. 


179 


the  trolls  beat  thee  one  night  for  each  of  us,  and  if  thou 
canst  but  endure  that,  thou  wilt  set  us  free." 

"  Yes  "  answered  the  lad,  "  I  will  certainly  try  to  do  so." 

"  When  thou  goest  in,"  continued  the  princess,  "  two  lions 

will  stand  by  the  doorway,  but  if  thou  only  goest  straight 

between  them  they  will  do  thee  no  harm;  go  straight  for- 


ward into  a  small  dark  chamber;  there  thou  shalt  lie  down. 
Then  the  troll  will  come  and  beat  thee,  but  thou  shalt  take 
the  flask  which  is  hanging  on  the  wall,  and  anoint  thyself 
wheresoever  he  has  wounded  thee,  after  which  thou  shalt  be 
as  well  as  before.  Then  lay  hold  of  the  sword  which  is  hang- 
ing by  the  side  of  the  flask,  and  smite  the  troll  dead." 

So  he  did  what  the  princess  had  told  him.     He  walked 
straight  in  between  the  lions  just  as  if  he  did  not  see  them, 


180  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.   . 

and  then  into  the  small  chamber,  and  lay  down  on  the 
bed. 

The  first  night  a  troll  came  with  three  heads  and  three 
rods,  and  beat  the  lad  most  unmercifully;  but  he  held  out 
until  the  troll  was  done  with  him,  and  then  he  took  the  flask 
and  rubbed  himself.  Having  done  this  he  grasped  the  sword 
and  smote  the  troll  dead. 

In  the  morning  when  he  went  to  the  seashore  the  prin- 
cesses were  out  of  the  earth  as  far  as  their  waists. 

The  next  night  everything  happened  in  the  same  way,  but 
the  troll  who  came  then  had  six  heads  and  six  rods,  and  he 
beat  him  much  more  severely  than  the  first  had  done,  but 
when  the  lad  went  out  of  doors  next  morning,  the  prin- 
cesses were  out  of  the  earth  as  far  as  their  knees. 

On  the  third  night  a  troll  came  who  had  nine  heads  and 
nine  rods,  and  he  struck  the  lad  and  flogged  him  so  long, 
that  at  last  he  swooned  away;  so  the  troll  took  him  up  and 
flung  him  against  the  wall,  and  this  made  the  flask  of  oint- 
ment fall  down,  and  it  splashed  all  over  him,  and  he  became 
as  strong  as  ever  again. 

Then,  without  loss  of  time,  he  grasped  the  sword  and 
struck  the  troll  dead,  and  in  the  morning  when  he  went  out 
of  the  castle  the  princesses  were  standing  there  entirely  out 
of  the  earth.  So  he  took  the  youngest  for  his  queen,  and 
lived  with  her  very  happily  for  a  long  time. 

At  last,  however,  he  took  a  fancy  to  go  home  for  a  short 
time  to  see  his  parents.  His  queen  did  not  like  this,  but 
when  his  longing  grew  so  great  that  he  told  her  he  must  and 
would  go,  she  said  to  him: 

"  One  thing  shalt  thou  promise  me,  and  that  is,  to  do 
what  thy  father  bids  thee,  but  not  what  thy  mother  bids 
thee,"  and  this  he  promised. 

So  she  gave  him  a  ring  which  enabled  him  who  wore  it  to 
obtain  two  wishes. 

He  wished  himself  at  home,  and  instantly  found  him- 
self there;  but  his  parents  were  so  amazed  at  the  splendor 
.'f  his  apparel  that  their  wonder  never  ceased. 

When  he  had  been  at  home  for  some  days  his  mother 
wanted  him  to  go  up  to  the  palace,  to  show  the  king  what  a 
great  man  he  had  become. 

The  father  said,  "No;  he  must  not  do  that,  for  if  he 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  181 

does  we  shall  have  no  more  delight  in  him  this  time " ; 
but  he  spoke  in  vain,  for  the  mother  begged  and  prayed  until 
at  last  he  went. 

When  he  arrived  there  he  was  more  splendid,  both  in  rai- 
ment and  in  all  else,  than  the  other  king,  who  did  not  like 
it  and  said: 

"  Well,  you  can  see  what  kind  of  queen  mine  is,  but  I  can't 
see  yours.  I  do  not  believe  you  have  such  a  pretty  queen 
as  I  have." 

"  Would  to  Heaven  she  were  standing  here,  and  then  you 
would  be  able  to  see !  "  said  the  young  king,  and  in  an  instant 
she  was  standing  there. 

But  she  was  very  sorrowful,  and  said  to  him :  "  Why 
didst  thou  not  remember  my  words,  and  listen  only  to  what 
thy  father  said?  Now  must  I  go  home  again  at  once,  and 
thou  hast  wasted  both  thy  wishes." 

Then  she  tied  a  ring  in  his  hair,  which  had  her  name  upon 
it,  and  wished  herself  at  home  again. 

And  now  the  young  king  was  deeply  afflicted,  and  day  out 
and  day  in  went  thinking  of  naught  else  but  how  to  get 
back  again  to  his  queen.  "  I  will  try  to  see  if  there  is  any 
place  where  I  can  learn  how  to  find  Whiteland,"  he  thought, 
and  journeyed  forth  out  into  the  world. 

When  he  had  gone  some  distance  he  came  to  a  mountain, 
where  he  met  a  man  who  was  lord  over  all  the  beasts  in 
the  forest — for  they  all  came  to  him  when  he  blew  a  horn 
which  he  had.    So  the  king  asked  where  Whiteland  was. 

u  I  do  not  know  that,"  he  answered,  "  but  I  will  ask  my 
beasts."  Then  he  blew  his  horn  and  inquired  whether  any 
of  them  knew  where  Whiteland  lay,  but  there  was  not  one 
who  knew  that. 

So  the  man  gave  him  a  pair  of  snowshoes.  "  When  you 
have  these  on,"  he  said,  "you  will  come  to  my  brother,  who 
lives  hundreds  of  miles  from  here;  he  is  lord  over  all  the 
birds  in  the  air — ask  him.  When  you  have  got  there,  just 
turn  the  shoes  so  that  the  toes  point  this  way,  and  then  they 
will  come  home  again  of  their  own  accord." 

When  the  king  arrived  there  he  turned  the  shoes  as  the 
lord  of  the  beasts  had  bidden  him,  and  they  went  back. 

And  now  once  more  he  asked  after  Whiteland,  and  the 
man  summoned  all  the  birds  together,  and  inquired  if  any 


182 


THE    RED    FAIRY    BOOK. 


of  them  knew  where  Whiteland  lay.  No  one  knew  this. 
Long  after  the  others  there  came  an  old  eagle.  He  had  been 
absent  ten  whole  years,  but  he  too  knew  no  more  than  the 
rest. 

*  Well,  well,"  said  the  man,  "  then  you  shall  have  the  loan 
of  a  pair  of  snowshoes  of  mine.  If  you  wear  them  you  will 
get  to  my  brother,  who  lives  hundreds  of  miles  from  here. 
He  is  lord  of  all  the  fish  in  the  sea — you  can  ask  him.  But 
do  not  forget  to  turn  the  shoes  round." 

The  king  thanked  him,  put  on  the  shoes,  and  when  he  had 
got  to  him  who  was  lord  of  all  the  fish  in  the  sea,  he  turned 


the  snowshoes  round,  and  back  they  went  just  as  the  others 
had  gone,  and  he  asked  once  more  where  Whiteland  was. 

The  man  called  the  fish  together  with  his  horn,  but  none 
of  them  knew  anything  about  it.  At  last  came  an  old,  old 
pike,  which  he  had-  great  difficulty  in  bringing  home  to  him. 

When  he  asked  the  pike,  it  said :  "  Yes,  Whiteland  is  well 
known  to  me,  for  I  have  been  cook  there  these  ten  years.  To- 
morrow morning  I  have  to  go  back  there,  for  now  the  queen, 
whose  king  is  staying  away,  is  to  marry  someone  else." 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  183 

*  If  that  be  the  case  I  will  give  you  a  piece  of  advice,"  said 
the  man.  "  Not  far  from  here  on  a  moor  stand  three 
brothers,  who  have  stood  there  a  hundred  years  fighting  for 
a  hat,  a  cloak,  and  a  pair  of  boots ;  if  anyone  has  these  three 
things  he  can  make  himself  invisible,  and  if  he  desires  to  go 
to  any  place,  he  has  but  to  wish,  and  he  is  there.  You  may 
tell  them  that  you  have  a  desire  to  try  these  things,  and  then 
you  will  be  able  to  decide  which  of  the  men  is  to  have  them." 

So  the  king  thanked  him  and  went,  and  did  what  he  had 
said. 

"What  is  this  that  you  are  standing  fighting  about  for- 
ever and  ever  ? "  said  he  to  the  brothers ;  "  let  me  make  a 
trial  of  these  things,  and  then  I  will  judge  between  you." 

They  willingly  consented  to  this,  but  when  he  had  got 
the  hat,  the  cloak,  and  the  boots,  he  said,  "  Next  time  we 
meet  you  shall  have  my  decision,"  and  hereupon  he  wished 
himself  away. 

While  he  was  going  quickly  through  the  air  he  fell  in 
with  the  north  wind. 

"  And  where  may  you  be  going  ? "  said  the  north  wind. 

"  To  Whiteland,"  said  the  king,  and  then  he  related  what 
had  happened  to  him. 

"  Well,"  said  the  north  wind,  "  you  can  easily  go  a  little 
quicker  than  I  can,  for  I  have  to  puff  and  blow  into  every 
corner;  but  when  you  get  there,  place  yourself  on  the  stairs 
by  the  side  of  the  door,  and  then  I  will  come  blustering  in 
as  if  I  wanted  to  blow  down  the  whole  castle,  and  when  the 
prince  who  is  to  have  your  queen  comes  out  to  see  what  is 
astir,  just  take  him  by  the  throat  and  fling  him  out,  and 
then  I  will  try  to  carry  him  away  from  court." 

As  the  north  wind  had  said,  so  did  the  king.  He  stood 
on  the  stairs,  and  when  the  north  wind  came  howling  and 
roaring,  and  caught  the  roof  and  walls  of  the  castle  till 
they  shook  again,  the  prince  went  out  to  see  what  was  the 
matter;  but  as  soon  as  he  came  the  king  came  arid  took 
him  by  the  neck  and  flung  him  out,  and  then  the  north  wind 
laid  hold  of  him  and  carried  him  off.  And  when  he  was  rid 
of  him  the  king  went  into  the  castle.  At  fir=t  th^  nuepu 
did  not  know  him,  because  he  had  grown  so  thin  and  mle 
from  having  traveled  so  long  and  so  sorrowfully;  but  when 
«he  saw  her  ring  she  was  heartily  glad,  and  then  the  right- 


184  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

ful  wedding  was  held,  and  held  in  snch  a  way  that  it  tow 
talked  about  far  and  wide. 


THE   VOICE   OF   DEATH* 

Once  upon  a  time  there  lived  a  man  whose  one  wish  and 
prayer  was  to  get  rich.  Day  and  night  he  thought  of  noth- 
ing else,  and  at  last  his  prayers  were  granted,  and  he  be- 
came very  wealthy.  Now  being  so  rich,  and  having  so  much 
to  lose,  he  felt  that  it  would  be  a  terrible  thing  to  die  and 
leave  all  his  possessions  behind;  so  he  made  up  his  mind  to 
set  out  in  search  of  a  land  where  there  was  no  death.  He 
got  ready  for  his  journey,  took  leave  of  his  wife,  and  started. 
Whenever  he  came  to  a  new  country  the  first  question  that  he 
asked  was  whether  people  died  in  that  land,  and  when  he 
heard  that  they  did,  he  set  out  again  on  his  quest.  At  last 
he  reached  a  country  where  he  was  told  that  the  people  did 
not  even  know  the  meaning  of  the  word  death.  Our  traveler 
was  delighted  when  he  heard  this,  and  said: 

"  But  surely  there  are  great  numbers  of  people  in  your 
land,  if  no  one  ever  dies  ? " 

"No,"  they  replied,  "there  are  not  great  numbers,  for 
you  see  from  time  to  time  a  voice  is  heard  calling  first  one 
and  then  another,  and  whoever  hears  that  voice  gets  up  and 
goes  away,  and  never  comes  back." 

"And  do  they  see  the  person  who  calls  them,"  he  asked, 
"  or  do  they  only  hear  his  voice  ?  " 

"  They  both  see  and  hear  him,"  was  the  answer. 

Well,  the  man  was  amazed  when  he  heard  that  the  people 
were  stupid  enough  to  follow  the  voice,  though  they  knew 
that  if  they  went  when  it  called  them  they  would  never  re- 
turn. And  he  went  back  to  his  own  home  and  got  all  his  pos- 
sessions together,  and,  taking  his  wife  and  family,  he  set  out 
resolved  to  go  and  live  in  that  country  where  the  people  did 
not  die,  but  where  instead  they  heard  a  voice  calling  them, 
which  they  followed  into  a  land  from  which  they  never  re- 
turned. For  he  had  made  up  his  own  mind  that  when  he  or 
any  of  his  family  heard  that  voice  they  would  pay  no  heed 
to  it,  however  loudly  it  called. 

*  Roumanian  Tales  from  the  German  of  Mite  Thremnitz. 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 


185 


After  he  had  settled  down  in  his  new  home  and  had  got 
everything  in  order  about  him,  he  warned  his  wife  and 
family  that,  unless  they  wanted  to  die,  they  must  on  no  ac- 
count listen  to  a  voice  which  they  might  some  day  hear 
calling  them. 

For  some  years  everything  went  well  with  them,  and  they 
lived  happily  in  their  new  home.     But  one  day,  while  they 
„ere  all  sitting  together  round  the  table,  his  wife  suddenly 
started  up,  exclaiming  in  a  loud  voice: 
•   "  I  am  coming !    I  am  coming !  " 

And  she  began  to  look  round  for  her  fur  coat,  but  her 


< 


husband  jumped  up,  and  taking  firm  hold  of  her  by  the  hand, 
held  her  fast,  and  reproached  her,  saying : 

"  Don't  you  remember  what  I  told  you  ?     Stay  where  you 
are  unless  you  wish  to  die." 
*  "  But  don't  you  hear  that  voice  calling  me  ?  "  she  answered. 
"  I  am  merely  going  to  see  why  I  am  wanted.    I  shall  come 
come  back  directly." 

So  she  fought  and  struggled  to  get  away  from  her  hus- 
band, and  to  go  where  the  voice  summoned.     But  he  would 


< 


186  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

not  let  her  go,  and  had  all  the  doors  of  the  house  shut  and 
bolted.    When  she  saw  that  he  had  done  this,  she  said : 
>  r  "  Very  well,  dear  husband,  I  shall  do  what  you  wish,  and 

remain  where  I  am." 

So  her  husband  believed  that  it  was  all  right,  and  that 
she  had  thought  better  of  it,  and  had  got  over  her  mad  im- 
pulse to  obey  the  voice.  But  in  a  few  minutes  later  she  made 
a  dash  for  one  of  the  doors,  opened  it  and  darted  out,  fol- 
lowed by  her  husband.  He  caught  her  by  the  fur  coat,  and 
Pegged  and  implored  her  not  to  go,  for  if  she  did  she  would 
never  return..  She  said  nothing  but  let  her  arms  fall 
backward,  and  suddenly  bending  herself  forward,  she  slipped 
out  of  the  coat,  leaving  it  in  her  husband's  hands.  He,  poor 
man,  seemed  turned  to  stone  as  he  gazed  after  her  hurrying 
away  from  him,  and  calling  at  the  top  of  her  voice  as  she  ran : 

"  I  am  coming !    I  am  coming !  " 

When  she  was  quite  out  of  sight  her  husband  recovered 
his  wits  and  went  back  into  the  house,  murmuring: 

"If  she  is  so  foolish  as  to  wish  to  die,  I  can't  help  it.  I 
warned  and  implored  her  to  pay  no  heed  to  that  voice,  how- 
ever loudly  it  might  call." 

Well,  days  and  weeks  and  months  and  years  passed,  and 
nothing  happened  to  disturb  the  peace  of  the  household. 
But  one  day  the  man  was  at  the  barber's  as  usual,  being 
shaved.  The  shop  was  full  of  people,  and  his  chin  had  just 
been  covered  with  a  lather  of  soap,  when,  suddenly  starting 
up  from  the  chair,  he  called  out  in  a  loud  voice : 

"  I  won't  come,  do  you  hear  ?    I  won't  come !  " 

The  barber  and  the  other  people  in  the  shop  listened  to 
him  with  amazement.  But  again  looking  toward  the  door, 
he  exclaimed: 

"  I  tell  you,  once  and  for  all,  I  do  not  mean  to  come,  so  go 
away." 

And  a  few  minutes  later  he  called  out  again : 

"  Go  away,  I  tell  you,  or  it  will  be  the  worse  for  you.  You 
may  call  as  much  as  you  like,  but  you  will  never  get  me  to 
come." 

And  he  got  so  angry  that  you  might  have  thought  that 
someone  was  actually  standing  a^  the  door,  tormenting  him. 
At  last  he  jumped  up,  and  caught  the  razor  out  of  the  bar- 
ber's hand,  exclaiming: 


X. 


THE  BED  FAIRY  BOOK.  187 

"Give  me  that  razor,  and  I'll  teach  him  to  let  people 
alone  for  the  future." 

And  he  rushed  out  of  the  house  as  if  he  were  running 
after  someone,  whom  no  one  else  saw.  The  barber,  deter- 
mined not  to  lose  his  razor,  pursued  the  man,  and  they 
both  continued  running  at  full  speed  till  they  had  got  well 
out  of  the  town,  when  all  of  a  sudden  the  man  fell  head 
foremost  down  a  precipice,  and  never  was  seen  again.  So 
he  too,  like  the  others,  had  been  forced  against  his  will  to 
follow  the  voice  that  called  him. 

The  barber,  who  went  home  whistling  and  congratulating 
himself  on  the  escape  he  had  made,  described  what  had  hap- 
pened, and  it  was  noised  abroad  in  the  country  that  the  peo- 
ple who  had  gone  away,  and  had  never  returned,  had  all  fal- 
len into  that  pit;  for  till  then  they  had  never  known  what 
had  happened  to  those  who  had  heard  the  voice  and  obeyed 
its  call. 

But  when  crowds  of  people  went  out  from  the  town  to 
examine  the  ill-fated  pit  that  had  swallowed  up  such  num- 
bers, and  yet  never  seemed  to  be  full,  they  could  discover 
nothing.  All  that  they  could  see  was  a  vast  plain,  that 
looked  as  if  it  had  been  there  since  the  beginning  of  the 
world.  And  from  that  time  the  people  began  to  die  like  ordi- 
nary mortals  the  world  over. 


THE   SIX   SILLIES* 

Once  upon  a  time  there  was  a  young  girl  who  reached  the 
age  of  thirty-seven  without  ever  having  had  a  lover,  for  she 
was  so  foolish  that  no  one  wanted  to  marry  her. 

One  day,  however,  a  young  man  arrived  to  pay  his  ad- 
dresses to  her,  and  her  mother,  beaming  wfth  joy,  sent  her 
daughter  down  to  the  cellar  to  draw  a  jug  of  beer. 

As  the  girl  never  came  back  the  mother  went  down  to 
see  what  had  become  of  her,  and  found  her  sitting  on  the 
stairs,  her  head  in  her  hands,  while  by  her  side  the  beer 
was  running  all  over  the  floor,  as  she  had  forgotten  to  close 
the  tap.    "  What  are  you  doing  there  ?  "  asked  the  mother. 

*  Story  from  Hainant.    (M.  Lemoine.    La  Tradition.    No.  34.) 


188 


THE   RED    FAIRY   BOOK. 


"  I  was  thinking  what  I  shall  call  my  first  child  after  I  am 
married  to  that  young  man.  All  the  names  in  the  calendar 
are  taken  already." 

The  mother  sat  down  on  the  stairway  beside  her  daugh- 
ter and  said :    "  I  will  think  about  it  with  you,  my  dear." 

The  father,  who  had  stayed  upstairs  with  the  young  man, 
was  surprised  that  neither  his  wife  nor  his  daughter  came 
back,  and  in  his  turn  went  down  to  look  for  them.  He 
found  them  both  sitting  on  the  stairs,  while  beside  them 


MP 

jBSSMWmM 

H^^^rT^'l 

mm 

'•■HlwHR^ 

4^fmk W\ 

W'Jm 

mm 

m^'KSft^ 

M 

m 

■Ptspr  (, 

W¥Mm 

w 

III, 

1 

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i; 

IPS' 

■ 

is 

rjjpfe^k 

W&E%&, '                  mT^m 

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BBgPBB|| 

_!Zi2«^3J 

all  over  the  ground  from  the  tap, 
The  beer  is  running  all 


the  beer  was  running 
which  was  wide  open. 

"What  are  you  doing  there? 
orer  the  cellar." 

*  \V  e  were  thinking  what  we  shall  call  the  children  that  our 
daughter  will  have,  when  she  marries  that  young  man.  All 
the  names  in  the  calenda\  g~e  teken  already." 

"Well,"  said  the  father,  "  I  win  ;hink  *hnUt  it  with  you." 

As  neither  mother  nor  daughter  nor  father  came  upstair* 


THE  BED  FAIRY  BOOK.  189 

again,  the  lover  grew  impatient,  and  went  down  into  the  cel- 
lar to  see  what  they  could  all  be  doing.  He  found  them  all 
three  sitting  on  the  stairs,  while  beside  them  the  beer  was 
running  all  over  the  ground  from  the  tap,  which  was  wide 
open. 

"  What  in  the  world  are  you  all  doing  that  you  don't  come 
upstairs,  and  that  you  let  the  beer  run  all  over  the  cellar  ( n 

u  Yes,  I  know,  my  boy,"  said  the  father,  "  but  if  you  marry 
our  daughter  what  shall  you  call  your  children?  All  the 
names  in  the  calendar  are  taken." 

When  the  young  man  heard  this  answer  he  replied : 

"  Well !  good-by,  I  am  going  away.  When  I  shall  have 
found  three  people  sillier  than  you  I  will  come  back  and 
marry  your  daughter." 

So  he  continued  his  journey,  and  after  walking  a  long 
way  he  reached  an  orchard.  There  he  saw  some  people  knock- 
ing down  walnuts,  and  trying  to  throw  them  into  a  cart  with 
a  fork. 

"  What  are  you  doing  there  ? "  he  asked. 

"  We  want  to  load  the  cart  with  our  walnuts,  but  we  can't 
manage  to  do  it." 

The  lover  advised  them  to  get  a  basket  and  to  put  the 
walnuts  in  it,  so  as  to  turn  them  into  the  cart. 

"  Well,"  he  said  to  himself,  "  I  have  already  found  some- 
one more  foolish  than  those  three." 

So  he  went  on  his  way,  and  by  and  by  he  came  to  a  wood. 
There  he  saw  a  man  who  wanted  to  give  his  pig  some  acorns 
to  eat,  and  was  trying  with  all  his  might  to  make  him  climb 
up  the  oak  tree. 

u  What  are  you  doing,  my  good  man  ?  "  asked  he. 

"I  want  to  make  my  pig  eat  some  acorns,  and  I  can't 
get  him  to  go  up  the  tree." 

"  If  you  were  to  climb  up  and  shake  down  the  acorns  the 
pig  would  pick  them  up." 

*  Oh,  I  never  thought  of  that." 

"  Here  is  the  second  idiot,"  said  the  lover  to  himself. 

Some  way  further  along  the  road  he  came  upon  a  man 
who  had  never  worn  any  trousers,  and  who  was  trying  to  put 
on  a  pair.  So  he  had  fastened  them  to  a  tree  and  was 
jumping  with  all  his  might  up  in  the  air  so  that  he  should 
hit  the  two  legs  of  the  trousers  as  he  came  down. 


190  THE  RED  FAIEY  BOOK. 

"  It  would  be  much  better  if  you  held  them  in  your  hands," 
said  the  young  man,  "  and  then  put  your  legs  one  after  the 
other  in   each  hole." 

"  Dear  me,  to  be  sure !  You  are  sharper  than  I  am,  for 
that  never  occurred  to  me." 

And  having  found  three  people  more  foolish  than  his 
bride  or  her  father  or  her  mother,  the  lover  went  back  to 
marry  the  young  lady. 

And  in  the  course  of  time  they  had  a  great  many  children. 


KAEI  WOODENGOWK* 

There  was  once  upon  a  time  a  king  who  had  become  a 
widower.  His  queen  had  left  one  daughter  behind  her,  and 
she  was  so  wise  and  so  pretty  that  it  was  impossible  for  any- 
one to  be  wiser  or  prettier.  For  a  long  time  the  king  went 
sorrowing  for  his  wife,  for  he  had  loved  her  exceedingly; 
but  at  last  he  grew  tired  of  living  alone,  and  married  a 
queen  who  was  a  widow,  and  she  also  had  a  daughter,  who 
was  just  as  ill-favored  and  wicked  as  the  other  was  good  and 
beautiful.  The  stepmother  and  her  daughter  were  envious 
of  the  king's  daughter  because  she  was  so  pretty,  but  so  long 
as  the  king  was  at  home  they  dared  do  her  no  harm,  be- 
cause his  love  for  her  was  so  great. 

Then  there  came  a  time  when  he  made  war  on  another 
king  and  went  out  to  fight,  and  then  the  new  queen  thought 
that  she  could  do  what  she  liked;  so  she  both  hungered  and 
beat  the  king's  daughter  and  chased  her  about  into  every 
corner.  At  last  she  thought  that  everything  was  too  good 
for  her,  and  set  her  to  work  to  look  after  the  cattle.  So  she 
went  about  with  the  cattle,  and  herded  them  in  the  woods 
and  in  the  fields.  Of  food  she  got  little  or  none,  and  grew 
pale  and  thin,  and  was  nearly  always  weeping  and  sad. 
Among  the  herd  there  was  a  great  blue  bull,  which  always 
kept  itself  very  smart  and  sleek,  and  often  came  to  the 
king's  daughter  and  let  her  stroke  him.  So  one  day,  when 
she  was  again  sitting  crying  and  sorrowing,  the  bull  came  up 
to  her  and  asked  why  she  was  always  so  full  of  care?  Sh« 
made  no  answer,  but  continued  to  weep. 
*  From  P.  C.  Asbjornsen. 


THE   BED   FAIBY   BOOK. 


191 


"  Well,"  said  the  bull,  "  I  know  what  it  is,  though  you  will 
not  tell  me;  you  are  weeping  because  the  queen  is  unki»d 
to  you,  and  because  she  wants  to  starve  you  to  death.  But 
you  need  be  under  no  concern  about  food,  for  in  my  left  ear 
there  lies  a  cloth,  and  if  you  will  but  take  it  and  spread  it 
out,  you  can  have  as  many  dishes  as  you  like." 

So  she  did  this,  and  took  the  cloth  and  spread  it  out  upon 
the  grass,  and  then  it  was  covered  with  the  daintiest  dishes 
that  anyone  could  desire,  and  there  were  wine,  and  mead,  and 
cake.  And  now  she  became  brisk  and  well  again,  and  grew 
so  rosy,  and  plump,  and  fair  that  the  queen  and  her  scraggy 


daughter  turned  blue  and  white  with  vexation  at  it.  The 
queen  could  not  imagine  how  her  stepdaughter  could  look 
so  well  on  such  bad  food,  so  she  ordered  one  of  her  hand- 
maidens to  follow  her  into  the  wood  and  watch  her, 
and  see  how  it  was,  for  she  thought  that  some  of 
the  servants  must  be  giving  her  food.  So  the  maid 
followed  her  into  the  wood  and  watched,  and  saw  how 
the  stepdaughter  took  the  cloth  out  of  the  blue  bull's  ear, 
and  spread  it  out,  and  how  the  cloth  was  then  covered  with 
the  most  delicate  dishes,  which  the  stepdaughter  ate  and  re- 
galed herself  with.  So  the  waiting-maid  went  home  and  told 
the  queen. 


192  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

And  now  the  king  came  home,  and  he  had  conquered  the 
other  king  with  whom  he  had  been  at  war.  So  there  was 
great  gladness  in  the  palace,  but  no  one  was  more  glad  than 
the  king's  daughter.  The  queen,  however,  pretended  to  be 
ill,  and  gave  the  doctor  much  money  to  say  that  she  would 
never  be  well  again  unless  she  had  some  of  the  flesh  of  the 
blue  bull  to  eat.  Both  the  king's  daughter  and  the  people 
in  the  palace  asked  the  doctor  if  there  were  no  other  means 
of  saving  her,  and  begged  for  the  bull's  life,  for  they  were 
fond  of  him,  and  they  all  declared  that  there  was  no  such 
bull  in  the  whole  country;  but  it  was  all  in  vain,  he  was  to 
be  killed,  and  should  be  killed,  and  nothing  else  would  serve. 
When  the  king's  daughter  heard  it  she  was  full  of  sorrow, 
and  went  down  to  the  byre  to  the  bull.  He  too  was  standing 
there  hanging  his  head,  and  looking  so  downcast  that  she  fell 
a-weeping  over  him. 

"  What  are  you  weeping  for  ?  "  said  the  bull. 

So  she  told  him  that  the  king  had  come  home  again,  and 
that  the  queen  had  pretended  to  be  ill,  and  that  she  had 
made  the  doctor  say  that  she  could  never  be  well  again  un- 
less some  of  the  flesh  of  the  blue  bull  was  given  her  to  eat, 
and  that  now  he  was  to  be  killed. 

"When  once  they  have  taken  my  life  they  will  soon  kill 
you  also,"  said  the  bull.  "  If  you  are  of  the  same  mind  with 
me,  we  will  take  our  departure  this  very  night." 

The  king's  daughter  thought  it  was  bad  to  go  and  leave 
her  father,  but  that  it  was  worse  still  to  be  in  the  same  house 
with  the  queen,  so  she  promised  the  bull  that  she  would 
come. 

At  night,  when  all  the  others  had  gone  to  bed,  the  king's 
daughter  stole  softly  down  to  the  byre  to  the  bull,  and  he 
took  her  on  his  back  and  got  out  of  the  courtyard  as  quickly 
as  he  could.  So  at  cock-crow  next  morning,  when  the  peo- 
ple came  to  kill  the  bull,  he  was  gone,  and  when  the  king  got 
up  and  asked  for  his  daughter  she  was  gone  too.  He  sent 
forth  messengers  to  all  parts  of  the  kingdom  to  search  for 
them,  and  published  his  loss  in  all  the  parish  churches,  but 
there  was  no  one  who  had  seen  anything  of  them. 

In  the  meantime  the  bull  traveled  through  many  lands 
with  the  king's  daughter  on  his  back,  and  one  day  they  came 
to  a  great  copper  wood,  where  the  trees,  and  the  branches, 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  193 

and  the  leaves,  and  the  flowers,  and  everything  else  were  of 
copper. 

But  before  they  entered  the  wood  the  bull  said  to  the 
king's  daughter: 

"When  we  enter  this  wood,  you  must  take  the  greatest 
care  not  to  touch  a  leaf  of  it,  or  all  will  be  over  both  with  me 
and  with  you,  for  a  troll  with  three  heads,  who  is  the  owner 
of  the  wood,  lives  here." 

So  she  said  she  would  be  on  her  guard,  and  not  touch  any- 
thing. And  she  was  very  careful,  and  bent  herself  out  of 
the  way  of  the  branches,  and  put  them  aside  with  her  hands ; 
but  it  was  so  thickly  wooded  that  it  was  all  but  impossible 
to  get  forward,  and  do  what  she  might,  she  somehow  or  other 
tore  off  a  leaf  which  got  into  her  hand. 

"  Oh !  oh !  What  have  you  done  now  ? "  said  the  bull. 
"  It  will  now  cost  us  a  battle  for  life  or  death ;  but  do  be  care- 
ful to  keep  the  leaf !  " 

Very  soon  afterward  they  came  to  the  end  of  the  wood, 
and  the  troll  with  three  heads  came  rushing  up  to  them. 

"Who  is  that  who  is  touching  my  wood?"  said  the  troll. 

"  The  wood  is  just  as  much  mine  as  yours !  "  said  the  bull. 

"  We  shall  have  a  tussle  for  that !  "  shrieked  the  troll. 

"  That  may  be,"  said  the  bull. 

So  they  rushed  on  each  other  and  fought,  and  as  for  the 
bull,  he  butted  and  kicked  with  all  the  strength  of  his  body, 
but  the  troll  fought  quite  as  well  as  he  did,  and  the  whole 
day  went  by  before  the  bull  put  an  end  to  him,  and  then  he 
himself  was  so  full  of  wounds  and  so  worn  out  that  he  was 
scarcely  able  to  move.  So  they  had  to  wait  a  day,  and  the 
bull  told  the  king's  daughter  to  take  the  horn  of  ointment 
which  hung  at  the  troll's  belt,  and  rub  him  with  it ;  then  he 
was  himself  again,  and  the  next  day  they  set  off  once  more. 
And  now  they  journeyed  on  for  many,  many  days,  and  then 
after  a  long,  long  time  they  came  to  a  silver  wood.  The 
trees,  and  the  boughs,  and  the  leaves,  and  the  flowers,  and 
everything  else  were  of  silver. 

Before  the  bull  went  into  the"  wood,  he  said  to  the  king's 
daughter:  "When  we  enter  into  this  wood  you  must,  for 
Heaven's  sake,  be  very  careful  not  to  touch  anything  at 
all,  and  not  to  pluck  even  so  much  as  one  leaf,  or  else  all  will 
be  over  both  with  you  and  me.     A  troll  with  six  heads 


194  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

lives  here,  who  is  the  owner  of  the  wood,  and  I  do  not  think 
I  should  be  able  to  overcome  him." 

"  Yes,"  said  the  king's  daughter,  "  I  will  take  good  care 
not  to  touch  what  you  do  not  wish  me  to  touck." 

But  when  they  got  into  the  wood  it  was  so  crowded,  and 
the  trees  so  close  together,  that  they  could  scarcely  get  for- 
ward. She  was  as  careful  as  she  could  be,  and  bent  aside  to 
get  out  of  the  way  of  the  branches,  and  thrust  them  away 
from  before  her  with  her  hands;  but  every  instant  a  branch 
struck  against  her  eyes,  and  in  spite  of  all  her  care,  she  hap- 
pened to  pull  off  one  leaf. 

"  Oh !  oh !  What  have  you  done  now  ?  "  said  the  bull.  "  It 
will  now  cost  us  a  battle  for  life  or  death,  for  this  troll  has 
six  heads  and  is  twice  as  strong  as  the  other,  but  do  be  care- 
ful to  keep  the  leaf." 

Just  as  he  said  this  along  came  the  troll.  "  Who  is  that 
who  is  touching  my  wood  ? "  he  said. 

"  It  is  just  as  much  mine  as  yours ! " 

"  We  shall  have  a  tussle  for  that ! "  screamed  the  troll. 

"  That  may  be,"  said  the  bull,  and  rushed  at  the  troll, 
and  gored  out  his  eyes,  and  drove  his  horns  right  through 
him  so  that  his  entrails  gushed  out,  but  the  troll  fought 
just  as  well  as  he  did,  and  it  was  three  whole  days  before  the 
bull  got  the  life  out  of  him.  But  the  bull  was  then  so  weak 
and  worn  out  that  it  was  only  with  pain  and  effort  that  he 
could  move,  and  so  covered  with  wounds  that  the  blood 
streamed  from  him.  So  he  told  the  king's  daughter  to  take 
the  horn  that  was  hanging  at  the  troll's  belt,  and  anoint  him 
with  it.  She  did  this,  and  then  he  came  to  himself  again, 
but  they  had  to  stay  there  and  rest  for  a  week  before  the  bull 
was  able  to  go  any  further. 

At  last  they  set  forth  on  their  way  again,  but  the  bull 
was  still  weak,  and  at  first  could  not  go  quickly.  The  king's 
daughter  wished  to  spare  him,  and  said  that  she  was  so 
young  and  light  of  foot  that  she  would  willingly  walk,  but  he 
would  not  give  her  leave  to  do  that,  and  she  was  forced  to 
seat  herself  on  his  back  again.  So  they  traveled  for  a  long 
time,  and  through  many  lands,  and  the  king's  daughter  did 
not  at  all  know  where  he  was  taking  her,  but  after  a  long, 
long  time  they  came  to  a  gold  wood.  It  was  so  golden  that 
the  gold  dripped  off  it,  and  the  trees,  and  the  branches,  and 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  195 

the  flowers,  and  the  leaves  were  all  of  pure  gold.  Here  all 
happened  just  as  it  had  happened  in  the  copper  wood  and 
silver  wood.  The  bull  told  the  king's  daughter  that  on  no 
account  was  she  to  touch  it,  for  there  was  a  troll  with  nine 
heads  who  was  the  owner,  and  that  he  was  much  larger  and 
stronger  than  both  the  others  put  together,  and  that  he  did 
not  believe  that  he  could  overcome  him.  So  she  said  that 
she  would  take  great  care  not  to  touch  anything,  and  he 
should  see  that  she  did.  But  when  they  got  into  the  wood  it 
was  still  thicker  than  the  silver  wood,  and  the  further  they 
got  into  it  the  worse  it  grew.  The  wood  became  thicker  and 
thicker,  and  closer  and  closer,  and  at  last  she  thought  there 
was  no  way  whatsoever  by  which  they  could  get  forward; 
she  was  so  terrified  lest  she  should  break  anything  off  that 
she  sat  and  twisted  and  turned  herself  on  this  side  and  on 
that,  to  get  out  of  the  way  of  the  branches,  and  pushed  them 
away  from  her  with  her  hands,  but  every  moment  they  struck 
against  her  eyes,  so  that  she  could  not  see  what  she  was 
clutching  at,  and  before  she  knew  what  she  was  doing  she 
had  a  golden  apple  in  her  hands.  She  was  now  in  such  ter- 
ror that  she  began  to  cry,  and  wanted  to  throw  it  away,  but 
the  bull  said  that  she  was  to  keep  it,  and  take  the  greatest 
care  of  it,  and  comforted  her  as  well  as  he  could,  but  he  be- 
lieved that  it  would  be  a  hard  struggle,  and  he  doubted 
whether  it  would  go  well  with  him. 

Just  then  the  troll  with  nine  heads  came,  and  he  was  so 
frightful  that  the  king's  daughter  scarcely  dared  to  look  at 
him. 

"  Who  is  this  who  is  breaking  my  wood  ? "  he  screamed. 

"  It  is  as  much  mine  as  yours ! "  said  the  bull. 

"  We  shall  have  a  tussle  for  that ! "  screamed  the  troll. 

"  That  may  be,"  said  the  bull ;  so  they  rushed  at  each  other, 
and  fought,  and  it  was  such  a  dreadful  sight  that  the  king's 
daughter  very  nearly  swooned.  The  bull  gored  the  troll's 
eyes  out  and  ran  his  horns  right  through  him,  but  the  troll 
fought  as  well  as  he  did,  and  when  the  bull  had  gored  one 
head  to  death  the  other  heads  breathed  life  into  it  again, 
so  it  was  a  whole  week  before  the  bull  was  able  to  kill  him. 
But  then  he  himself  was  so  worn  out  and  weak  that  he  could 
not  move  at  all.  His  body  was  all  one  wound,  and  he  could 
not  even  so  much  as  tell  the  king's  daughter  to  take  the  horn 


196 


THE   RED    FAIRY   BOOK. 


of  ointment  out  of  the  troll's  belt  and  rub  him  with  it.  She 
did  this  without  being  told;  so  he  came  to  himself  again, 
but  he  had  to  lie  there  for  three  weeks  and  rest  before  he 
was  in  a  state  to  move. 

Then  they  journeyed  onward  by  degrees,  for  the  bull  said 
that  they  still  had  a  little  further  to  go,  and  in  this  way  they 


crossed  many  high  hills  and  thick  woods.  This  lasted  for 
awhile,  and  then  they  came  upon  the  fells. 

"  Do  you  see  anything  ?  "  asked  the  bull. 

"  IsTo,  I  see  nothing  but  the  sky  above  and  the  wild  fell 
side,"  said  the  king's  daughter. 

Then  they  climbed  up  higher,  and  the  fell  grew  more 
level,  so  that  they  could  see  further  around  them. 

"  Do  you  see  anything  now  ? "  said  the  bull. 

"Yes,  I  see  a  small  castle,  far,  far  away,"  said  the  prin- 


"  It  is  not  so  very  little  after  all,"  said  the  bull. 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  197 

After  a  long,  long  time  they  came  to  a  high  hill,  where 
there  was  a  precipitous  wall  of  rock. 

"  Do  you  see  nothing  now  ?  "  said  the  bull. 

"  Yes,  now  I  see  the  castle  quite  near,  and  now  it  is  much, 
much  larger,"  said  the  king's  daughter. 

"  Thither  shall  you  go,"  said  the  bull ;  "  immediately  be- 
low the  castle  there  is  a  pig-sty,  where  you  shall  dwell. 
When  you  get  there  you  will  find  a  wooden  gown  which  you 
are  to  put  on,  and  then  go  to  the  castle  and  say  that  you 
are  called  Kari  Woodengown,  and  that  you  are  seeking  a 
place.  But  now  you  must  take  out  your  little  knife  and  cut 
off  my  head  with  it,  and  then  you  must  flay  me  and  roll  up 
my  hide  and  put  it  there  under  the  rock,  and  beneath  the 
hide  you  must  lay  the  copper  leaf,  and  the  silver  leaf,  and 
the  golden  apple.  Close  beside  the  rock  a  stick  is  standing, 
and  when  you  want  me  for  anything  you  have  only  to  knock 
at  the  wall  of  rock  with  that." 

At  first  she  would  not  do  it,  but  when  the  bull  said  that 
this  was  the  only  reward  that  he  would  have  for  what  he 
had  done  for  her,  she  could  not  do  otherwise.  So  though 
she  thought  it  very  cruel,  she  slaved  on  and  cut  at  the  great 
animal  with  the  knife  till  she  had  cut  off  his  head  and  hide, 
and  then  she  folded  up  the  hide  and  laid  it  beneath  the 
mountain  wall,  and  put  the  copper  leaf,  and  the  silver  leaf, 
and  the  golden  apple  inside  of  it. 

When  she  had  done  that  she  went  away  to  the  pig-sty, 
but  all  the  way  as  she  went  she  wept,  and  was  very  sorrow- 
ful. Then  she  put  on  the  wooden  gown,  and  walked  to  the 
king's  palace.  When  she  got  there  she  went  into  the  kitchen 
and  begged  for  a  place,  saying  that  her  name  was  Kari 
Woodengown. 

The  cook  told  her  that  she  might  have  a  place  and  leave 
to  stay  there  at  once  and  wash  up,  for  the  girl  who  had  done  • 
that  before  had  just  gone  away.     "And  as  soon  as  you  get 
tired  of  being  here  you  will  likewise  take  yourself  off  too," 
said  he. 

"  No,"  said  she,  "  that  I  shall  certainly  not." 

And  then  she  washed  up,  and  did  it  very  tidily. 

On  Sunday  some  strangers  were  coming  to  the  king's 
palace,  so  Kari  begged  to  have  leave  to  carry  up  the  water 
for  the  prince's  bath,  but  the  others  laughed  at  her  and  said, 


198 


THE   RED    FAIRY   BOOK. 


"What  do  you  want  there?     Do  you  think  the  prince  will 
ever  look  at  such  a  fright  as  you  ? " 

She  would  not  give  it  up,  however,  but  went  on  begging 
until  at  last  she  got  leave.  When  she  was  going  upstairs 
her  wooden  gown  made  such  a  clatter  that  the  prince  came 
out  and  said :  "  What  sort  of  a  creature  may  you  be  ? " 
"  I  was  to  take  this  water  to  you,"  said  Kari. 
"Do  you  suppose  that  I  will  have  any  water  that  you 
bring  ? "  said  the  prince,  and  emptied  it  over  her. 

She  had  to  bear  that,  but  then  she  asked  permission  to  go 

to  church.  She  got  that,  for 
the  church  was  very  near. 
But  first  she  went  to  the  rock 
and  knocked  at  it  with  the 
stick  which  was  standing 
there,  as  the  bull  had  told  her 
to  do.  Instantly  a  man  came 
forward  and  asked  her  what 
she  wanted.  The  king's 
daughter  said  that  she  had 
got  leave  to  go  to  church  and 
listen  to  the  priest,  but  that 
she  had  no  clothes  to  go  in. 
So  he  brought  her  a  gown 
that  was  as  bright  as  the  cop- 
per wood,  and  she  got  a  horse 
and  saddle  too  from  him. 
When  she  reached  the  church 
she  was  so  pretty  and  so 
splendidly  dressed  that  every- 
one wondered  who  she  could 
be,  and  hardly  anyone  lis- 
tened to  what  the  priest  was  saying,  for  they  were  all 
looking  far  too  much  at  her,  and  the  prince  himself 
liked  her  so  well  that  he  could  not  take  his  eyes  off 
her  for  an  instant.  As  she  was  walking  out  of  the  church 
the  prince  followed  her  and  shut  the  church  door  after  her, 
and  thus  he  kept  one  of  her  gloves  in  his  hand.  Then  she 
went  away  and  mounted  her  horse  again;  the  prince  again 
followed  her,  and  asked  her  whence  she  came. 

"Oh!  I  am  from  Bathland,"  said  Kari.     And  when  the 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  199 

prince  took  out  the  glove  and  wanted  to  give  it  back  to  her, 
she  said: 

"  Darkness  behind  me,  but  light  on  my  way, 
That  the  Prince  may  not  see  where  I'm  going  to-day!  " 

The  prince  had  never  seen  the  equal  of  that  glove,  and 
he  went  far  and  wide,  asking  after  the  country  which  the 
proud  lady,  who  rode  away  without  her  glove,  had  said  that 
she  came  from,  but  there  was  no  one  who  could  tell  him. 

Next  Sunday  someone  had  to  take  up  a  towel  to  the 
prince. 

"  Ah !  may  I  have  leave  to  go  up  with  that  ? "  said  Kari. 

"  What  would  be  the  use  of  that  ?  *  said  the  others  who 
were  in  the  kitchen;  "you  saw  what  happened  last  time." 

Kari  would  not  give  in,  but  went  on  begging  for  leave  till 
she  got  it,  and  then  she  ran  up  the  stairs  so  that  her  wooden 
gown  clattered  again.  Out  came  the  prince,  and  when  he 
saw  that  it  was  Kari,  he  snatched  the  towel  from  her  and 
flung  it  right  into  her  eyes. 

"  Be  off  at  once,  you  ugly  troll,"  said  he ;  "  do  you  think 
that  I  will  have  a  towel  handled  by  your  dirty  fingers  ? " 

After  that  the  prince  went  to  church,  and  Kari  also  asked 
leave  to  go.  They  all  asked  how  she  could  want  to  go  to 
church  when  she  had  nothing  to  wear  but  that  wooden  gown, 
which  was  so  black  and  hideous.  But  Kari  said  she  thought 
the  priest  was  such  a  good  man  at  preaching  that  she  got 
much  benefit  from  what  he  said,  so  at  last  she  got  leave. 

She  went  to  the  rock  and  knocked,  whereupon  out  came 
the  man  and  gave  her  a  gown  which  was  much  more  mag- 
nificent than  the  first.  It  was  embroidered  with  silver  all 
over,  and  it  shone  like  the  silver  wood,  and  he  gave  her  also 
a  most  beautiful  horse,  with  housings  embroidered  with 
silver,  and  a  bridle  of  silver  too. 

When  the  king's  daughter  got  to  church  all  the  people 
were  standing  outside  upon  the  hillside,  and  all  of  them 
wondered  who  on  earth  she  could  be,  and  the  prince  was  on 
the  alert  in  a  moment,  and  came  and  wanted  to  hold  her 
horse  while  she  alighted.  But  she  jumped  off  and  said  that 
there  was  no  need  for  that,  for  the  horse  was  so  well  broken 
in  that  it  stood  still  when  she  bade  it  and  came  when  she 
called  it.     So  they  all  went  into  the  church  together,  but 


200  THE  BED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

there  was  scarcely  anyone  who  listened  to  what  the  priest  was 
saying,  for  they  were  all  looking  far  too  much  at  her,  and 
the  prince  fell  much  more  deeply  in  love  with  her  than  he 
had  been  before. 

When  the  sermon  was  over  and  she  went  out  of  the  church,, 
and  was  just  going  to  mount  her  horse,  the  prince  again 
came  and  asked  her  where  she  came  from. 

"  I  am  from  Towelland,"  said  the  king's  daughter,  and 
as  she  spoke  she  dropped  her  riding-whip,  and  while  the 
prince  was  stooping  to  pick  it  up  she  said: 

"  Darkness  behind  me,  but  light  on  my  way. 
That  the  Prince  may  not  see  where  I'm  going  to-day!  " 

And  she  was  gone  again,  neither  could  the  prince  see  what 
had  become  of  her.  He  went  far  and  wide  to  inquire  for 
that  country  from  whence  she  had  said  that  she  came,  but 
there  was  no  one  who  could  tell  him  where  it  lay,  so  he  was 
forced  to  have  patience  once  more. 

Next  Sunday  someone  had  to  go  to  the  prince  with  a 
comb.  Kari  begged  leave  to  go  with  it,  but  the  others  re- 
minded her  of  what  had  happened  last  time,  and  scolded 
her  for  wanting  to  let  the  prince  see  her  when  she  was  so 
black  and  so  ugly  in  her  wooden  gown,  but  she  would  not 
give  up  asking  until  they  gave  her  leave  to  go  up  to  the 
prince  with  the  comb.  When  she  went  clattering  up  the 
stairs  again,  out  came  the  prince  and  took  the  comb  and 
flung  it  at  her,  and  ordered  her  to  be  off  as  fast  as  she  could. 
After  that  the  prince  went  to  church,  and  Kari  also  begged 
for  leave  to  go.  Again  they  all  asked  what  she  would  do 
there,  she  who  was  so  black  and  ugly,  and  had  no  clothes  that 
she  could  be  seen  in  by  other  people.  The  prince  or  some- 
one else  might  very  easily  catch  sight  of  her,  they  said,  and 
then  both  she  and  they  would  suffer  for  it;  but  Kari  said 
that  they  had  something  else  to  do  than  to  look  at  her,  and 
she  never  ceased  begging  until  she  got  leave  to  go. 

And  now  all  happened  just  as  it  had  happened  twice  al- 
ready. She  went  away  to  the  rock  and  knocked  at  it  with 
the  stick,  and  then  the  man  came  out  and  gave  her  a  gown 
which  was  very  much  more  magnificent  than  either  of  the 
others.    It  was  almost  entirely  made  of  pure  gold  and  dia- 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK  201 

monds,  and  she  also  got  a  noble  horse  with  housings  em- 
broidered with  gold,  and  a  golden  bridle. 

When  the  king's  daughter  came  to  the  church  the  priest 
and  people  were  all  standing  on  the  hillside  waiting  for 
her,  and  the  prince  ran  up  and  wanted  to  hold  the  horse, 
but  she  j jumped  off,  saying: 

"No,  thank  you,  there  is  no  need ;  my  horse  is  so  well 
broken  in  that  it  will  stand  still  when  I  bid  it." 

So  they  all  hastened  into  the  church  together  and  the 
priest  got  into  the  pulpit,  but  no  one  listened  to  what  he 
said,  for  they  were  looking  for  too  much  at  her  and 
wondering  whence  she  came ;  and  the  prince  was  far  more 
in  love  than  he  had  been  on  either  of  the  former  oc- 
casions; he  was  mindful  of  nothing  but  looking  at  her. 
about  to  leave  the  church,  the  prince  had  caused  a  firkin 

When  the  sermon  was  over  and  the  king's  daughter  was 
of  tar  to  be  emptied  out  in  the  porch  in  order  that  he  might 
go  to  help  her  over  it ;  she,  however,  did  not  trouble  her- 
self in  the  least  about  the  tar,  but  set  her  foot  down  in  the 
middle  of  it  and  jumped  over  it,  and  thus  one  of  her  gold 
shoes  were  left  sticking  in  it.  When  she  had  seated  her- 
self on  the  horse  the  prince  came  running  out  of  the 
church  and  ask  her  whence  she  came. 

"From  Combland,"  said  Kari.  But  when  the  prince 
wanted  to  reach  her  her  gold  shoe,  she  said : 

"Darkness  behind  me,  but  light  on  my  way, 
That  the  Prince  may  not  see  where  I'm  going  to-day  !'* 

The  prince  did  not  know  what  had  become  of  her,  so 
he  traveled  for  a  long  and  wearisome  time  all  over  the 
world,  asking  where  Combland  was,  but  when  no  one  could 
tell  him  where  that  coutry  was,  he  caused  it  to  be  made 
known  everywhere  that  he  would  marry  any  woman  who 
could  put  on  the  gold  shoe.  So  fair  maidens  and  ugly 
maidens  came  thither  from  all  regions,  but  there  was  none 
who  had  a  foot  so  small  that  she  could  put  on  the  gold 
shoe.  After  a  long,  long  while  came  Kari  Woodengown's 
wicked  stepmother,  with  her  daughter  too,  and  shoe  fitted 
her.  But  she  was  so  ugly  and  looked  so  loathsome  that 
the  prince  was  very  unwilling  to  do  what  he  had  prom- 
ised.    Nevertheless  all  was  got  ready  for  the  wedding, 


202 


THE   RED   FAIRY   BOOK. 


and  she  was  decked  out  as  a  bride,  but  as  they  were  riding 
to  church  a  little  bird  sat  upon  a  tree  and  sang: 

°  A  slice  off  her  heel 
And  a  slice  off  her  toes, 
Kari  Woodengown's  shoe 
Fills  with  blood  as  she  goes!  " 

And  when  they  looked  to  it  the  bird  had  spoken  the  truth, 
for  blood  was  trickling  out  of  the  shoe.    So  all  the  waiting- 
maids,  and  all  the  womenkind  in  the  castle  had  to  come  and 
try  on  the  shoe,  but  there  was  not  one  whom  it  would  fit. 
"  But   where    is    Kari    Woodengown,    then  ? "    asked    the 


prince,  when  all  the  others  had  tried  on  the  shoe,  for  he 
understood  the  song  of  birds  and  it  came  to  his  mind  what 
the  bird  had  said. 

"  Oh !  that  creature !  "  said  the  others ;  u  it's  not  the 
least  use  for  her  to  come  here,  for  she  has  feet  like  a  horse !  " 

"  That  may  be,"  said  the  prince,  "  but  as  all  the  others 
have  tried  it,  Kari  may  try  it  too.  Kari !  "  he  called  out 
through  the  door,  and  Kari  came  upstairs,  and  her  wooden 
gown  clattered  as  if  a  whole  regiment  of  dragoons  were 
coming  up. 

"  Now  you  are  to  try  on  the  gold  shoe  and  be  a  princess," 


THE  BED  FAIRY  BOOK.  203 

said  the  other  servants,  and  they  laughed  at  her  and  mocked 
her.  Kari  took  up  the  shoe,  put  her  foot  into  it  as  easily 
as  possible,  and  then  threw  off  her  wooden  gown,  and  there 
she  stood  in  the  golden  gown,  which  flashed  like  rays  of  sun- 
shine, and  on  her  other  foot  she  had  the  fellow  to  the  gold 
shoe.  The  prince  knew  her  in  a  moment,  and  was  so  glad 
that  he  ran  and  took  her  in  his  arms  and  kissed  her,  and 
when  he  heard  that  she  was  a  king's  daughter  he  was  gladder 
still,  and  then  they  had  the  wedding. 


DRAKESTAIL* 

Drakestail  was  very  little,  that  is  why  he  was  called 
Drakestail;  but  tiny  as  he  was  he  had  brains,  and  he  knew 
what  he  was  about,  for  having  begun  with  nothing  he  ended 
by  amassing  a  hundred  crowns.  JSTow  the  king  of  the  coun- 
try, who  was  very  extravagant  and  never  kept  any  money, 
having  heard  that  Drakestail  had  some,  went  one  day  in 
his  own  person  to  borrow  his  hoard,  and,  my  word,  in  those 
days  Drakestail  was  not  a  little  proud  of  having  lent  money 
to  the  king.  But  after  the  first  and  second  year,  seeing  that, 
they  never  even  dreamed  of  paying  the  interest,  he  became 
uneasy,  so  much  so  that  at  last  he  resolved  to  go  and  see  his 
majesty  himself,  and  get  repaid.  So  one  fine  morning 
Drakestail,  very  spruce  and  fresh,  takes  the  road,  singing: 
"  Quack,  quack,  quack,  when  shall  I  get  my  money  back  ?  " 

He  had  not  gone  far  when  he  met  friend  Fox,  on  his 
rounds  that  way. 

"  Good-morning,  neighbor,"  says  the  friend ;  "  where  are 
you  off  to  so  early  ?  " 

"  I  am  going  to  the  king  for  what  he  owes  me." 

"Oh!  take  me  with  thee!" 

Drakestail  said  to  himself :  "  One  can't  have  too  many 
friends."  Aloud  says  he,  "I  will,  but  going  on  all  fours 
you  will  soon  be  tired.  Make  yourself  quite  small,  get  into 
my  throat — go  into  my  gizzard  and  I  will  carry  you." 

"  Happy  thought !  "  says  friend  Fox. 

*  GorUe»  of  Ch.  Marelles. 


204  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

He  takes  bag  and  baggage,  and,  presto !  is  gone  like  a  let- 
ter into  the  post. 

And  Drakestail  is  off  again,  all  spruce  and  fresh,  still  sing- 
ing :  "  Quack,  quack,  quack,  when  shall  I  have  my  money 
back?" 

He  had  not  gone  far  when  he  met  his  lady  friend,  Ladder, 
leaning  on  her  wall. 

"  Good-morning,  my  duckling,"  says  the  lady  friend, 
"  whither  away  so  bold  ?  " 

"  I  am  going  to  the  king  for  what  he  owes  me." 

"  Oh !  take  me  with  thee !  " 

Drakestail  said  to  himself :  "  One  can't  have  too  many 
friends."  Aloud  says  he:  "I  will,  but  then  with  your 
wooden  legs  you  will  soon  be  tired.  Make  yourself  quite 
small,  get  into  my  throat — go  into  my  gizzard  and  I  will 
carry  you." 

"  Happy  thought !  "  says  my  friend,  Ladder,  and  nimble, 
bag  and  baggage,  goes  to  keep  company  with  friend  Fox. 

And  "  Quack,  quack,  quack,"  Drakestail  is  off  again,  sing- 
ing and  spruce  as  before.  A  little  further  he  meets  his 
sweetheart,  my  friend  Kiver,  wandering  quietly  in  the  sun- 
shine. 

"  Thou,  my  cherub,"  says  she,  "  whither  so  lonesome,  with 
arching  tail,  on  this  muddy  road  ? " 

"  I  am  going  to  the  king,  you  know,  for  what  he  owes  me." 

"Oh!  take  me  with  thee!" 

Drakestail  said  to  himself :  "  We  can't  have  too  many 
friends."  Aloud  says  he:  I  will,  but  you  who  sleep  while 
you  walk  will  soon  get  tired.  Make  yourself  quite  small 
get  into  my  throat — go  into  my  gizzard  and  I  will  carry  you." 

"  Ah !  happy  thought !  "  says  my  friend    River. 

She  takes  bag  and  baggage,  and  glou,  glou,  glou  she  takes 
her  place  between  friend  Fox  and  my  friend  Ladder. 

And  "  Quack,  quack,  quack,"  Drakestail  is  off  again  sing- 
ing. 

A  little  further  on  he  meets  comrade  Wasp's-nest,  ma- 
neuvering his  wasps. 

"  Well,  good-morning,  friend  Drakestail,"  said  comrade 
Wasp's-nest,  "  where  are  we  bound  for,  so  spruce  and  fresh  ?  " 

"  I  am  going  to  the  king  for  what  he  owes  me." 

"Oh!  take  me  with  thee!" 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  205 

Drakestail  said  to  himself,  "  One  can't  have  too  many 
friends."  Aloud  says  he:  "I  will,  but  then  with  your  bat- 
talion to  drag  along,  you  will  soon  be  tired.  Make  your- 
self quite  small,  go  into  my  throat — get  into  my  gizzard  and 
I  will  carry  you." 

"  By  Jove !  that's  a  good  idea ! "  says  comrade  Wasp's- 
nest. 

And  left  file!  he  takes  the  same  road  to  join  the  others 
with  all  his  party.  There  was  not  much  room,  but  by  closing 
up  a  bit  they  managed.    And  Drakestail  is  off  again  singing. 

He  arrived  thus  at  the  capital,  and  threaded  his  way 
straight  up  the  High  Street,  still  running  and  singing 
"  Quack,  quack,  quack,  when  shall  I  get  my  money  back  ?  " 
to  the  great  astonishment  of  the  good  folks,  till  he  came  to 
the  king's  palace. 

He  strikes  with  the  knocker :  "  Toe !  toe !  " 

"  Who  is  there  ? "  asks  the  porter,  putting  his  head  out  of 
the  wicket. 

"'Tis  I,  Drakestail.    I  wish  to  speak  to  the  king." 

"  Speak  to  the  king !  That's  easily  said.  The  king  is  din- 
ing, and  will  not  be  disturbed." 

"  Tell  him  that  it  is  I,  and  I  have  come  he  well  knows 
why." 

The  porter  shuts  his  wicket  and  goes  up  to  say  it  to  the 
king,  who  was  just  sitting  down  to  dinner  with  a  napkin 
round  his  neck,  and  all  his  ministers. 

"  Good,  good ! "  said  the  king,  laughing.  "  I  know  wha\ 
it  is !  Make  him  come  in,  and  put  him  with  the  turkeys  and 
chickens." 

The  porter  descends. 

"  Have  the  goodness  to  enter." 

"  Good !  "  says  Drakestail  to  himself,  "  I  shall  now  see  how 
they  eat  at  court." 

"  This  way,  this  way,"  says  the  porter.  a  One  step  fur- 
ther.   There,  there  you  are." 

"  How  ?  what  ?  in  the  poultry-yard  ?  " 

Fancy  how  vexed  Drakestail  was ! 

"Ah!  so  that's  it,"  says  he.  "Wait!  I  will  compel  you 
to  receive  me.  Quack,  quack,  quack,  when  shall  I  get  my 
money  back  ?  "  But  turkeys  and  chickens  are  creatures  who 
don't  like  people  that  are  not  as  themselves.    When  they  saw 


206  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

the  new-comer  and  how  he  was  made,  and  when  they  heard 
him  crying  too,  they  began  to  look  black  at  him. 

"  What  is  it  ?  what  does  he  want  ?  " 

Finally  they  rushed  at  him  altogether,  to  overwhelm  him 
with  pecks. 

"  I  am  lost !  "  said  Drakestail  to  himself,  when  by  good 
luck  he  remembers  his  comrade  friend  Fox,  and  he  cries: 

>f  Reynard,  Reynard,  come  out  of  your  earth, 
Or  Drakestail's  life  is  of  little  worth." 

Then  friend  Fox,  who  was  only  waiting  for  these  words, 
hastens  out,  throws  himself  on  the  wicked  fowls,  and  quick! 
quack!  he  tears  them  to  pieces;  so  much  so  that  at  the  end 
of  five  minutes  there  was  not  one  left  alive.  And  Drakes- 
tail,  quite  content,  began  to  sing  again,  "  Quack,  quack, 
quack,  when  shall  I  get  my  money  back  ? " 

When  the  king,  who  was  still  at  table,  heard  this  refrain, 
and  the  poultry-woman  came  to  tell  him  what  had  been  go- 
ing on  in  the  yard,  he  was  terribly  annoyed. 

He  ordered  them  to  throw  this  tail  of  a  drake  into  the 
well,  to  make  an  end  of  him. 

And  it  was  done  as  he  commanded.  Drakestail  was  in  de- 
spair of  getting  himself  out  of  such  a  deep  hole,  when  he  re- 
membered his  lady  friend  Ladder. 

'  Ladder,  Ladder,  come  out  of  thy  hold, 
Or  Drakestail's  days  will  soon  be  told." 

My  friend  Ladder,  who  was  only  waiting  for  these  words, 
hastens  out,  leans  her  two  arms  on  the  edge  of  the  well, 
then  Drakestail  climbs  nimbly  on  her  back,  and  hop !  he  is  in 
the  yard,  where  he  begins  to  sing  louder  than  ever. 

When  the  king,  who  was  still  at  table  and  laughing  at  the 
good  trick  he  had  played  his  creditor,  heard  him  again  re- 
claiming his  money,  he  became  livid  with  rage. 

He  commanded  that  the  furnace  should  be  heated,  and 
this  tail  of  a  drake  thrown  into  it,  because  he  must  be  a 
sorcerer. 

The  furnace  was  soon  hot,  but  this  time  Drakestail  was 
not  so  afraid;  he  counted  on  his  sweetheart,  my  friend 
River. 

11  River,  River,  outward  flow, 
Or  to  death  Drakestail  must  go." 


THE   EED    FAIRY    BOOK. 


207 


Drakestail  Meeting  his  Various  Friends  on  his  Journey  to  the 
King's  Palace. 


My  friend  River  hastens  out,  and  errouf !  throws  herself 
into  the  furnace,  which  she  floods,  with  all  the  people  who 
had  lighted  it;  after  which  she  flowed  growling  into  the  hall 
of  the  palace  to  the  height  of  more  than  four  feet. 

And  Drakestail,  quite  content,  begins  to  swim,  singing 
deaf eningly,  "  Quack,  quack,  quack,  when  shall  I  get  my 
money  back  ? " 


208  THE  BED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

The  king  was  still  at  table,  and  thought  himself  quite 
sure  of  his  game;  but  when  he  heard  Drakestail  singing 
again,  and  when  they  told  him  all  that  had  passed,  he  be- 
came furious  and  got  up  from  the  table  brandishing  his 
fists. 

"  Bring  him  here,  and  I'll  cut  his  throat !  Bring  him  here 
quick !  "  cried  he. 

And  quickly  two  footmen  ran  to  fetch  Drakestail. 

"At  last,"  said  the  poor  chap,  going  up  the  great  stairs, 
"  they  have  decided  to  receive  me." 

Imagine  his  terror  when  on  entering  he  sees  the  king  as 
red  as  a  turkey  cock,  and  all  his  ministers  attending  him 
standing  sword  in  hand.  He  thought  this  time  it  was  all 
up  with  him.  Happily  he  remembered  that  there  was  still 
one  remaining  friend,  and  he  cried  with  dying  accents: 

"  "Wasp's  nest,  Wasp's  nest,  make  a  sally, 
Or  Drakestail  nevermore  may  rally." 

Hereupon  the  scene  changes. 

"  Bs,  bs,  bayonet  them ! "  The  brave  Wasp's-nest  rushes 
out  with  all  his  wasps.  They  threw  themselves  on  the  in- 
furiated king  and  his  ministers,  and  stung  them  so  fiercely 
in  the  face  that  they  lost  their  heads,  and  not  knowing 
where  to  hide  themselves  they  all  jumped  pell-mell  from 
the  window  and  broke  their  necks  on  the  pavement. 

Behold  Drakestail  much  astonished,  all  alone  in  the  big 
saloon  and  master  of  the  field.    He  could  not  get  over  it. 

Nevertheless,  he  remembered  shortly  what  he  had  come 
for  to  the  palace,  and  improving  the  occasion,  he  set  to 
work  to  hunt  for  his  dear  money.  But  in  vain  he  rum- 
maged in  all  the  drawers;  he  found  nothing;  all  had  been 
spent. 

And  ferreting  thus  from  room  to  room  he  came  at  last 
to  the  one  with  the  throne  in  it,  and  feeling  fatigued,  he 
sat  himself  down  on  it  to  think  over  his  adventure.  In 
the  meanwhile  the  people  had  found  their  king  and  his  min- 
isters with  their  feet  in  the  air  on  the  pavement,  and  they 
had  gone  into  the  palace  to  know  how  it  had  occurred.  On 
entering  the  throne-room,  when  the  crowd  saw  that  there 
was  already  someone  on  the  royal  seat,  they  broke  out  in 
cries  of  surprise  and  joy: 


THE   RED    FAIRY   BOOK. 


209 


M  The  King  is  dead,  long  live  the  King! 
Heaven  has  sent  us  down  this  thing." 

Drakestail,  who  was  no  longer  surprised  at  anything, 
received  the  acclamations  of  the  people  as  if  he  had  never 
done  anything  else  all  his  life. 

A  few  of  them  certainly  murmured  that  a  Drakestail 
would  make  a  fine  king;  those  who  knew  him  replied  that 
a    knowing    Drakestail   was    a   more    worthy    king    than    a 


spendthrift  like  him  who  was  lying  on  the  pavement.  In 
short,  they  ran  and  took  the  crown  off  the  head  of  the 
deceased,  and  placed  it  on  that  of  Drakestail,  whom  it  fitted 
like  wax. 

Thus  he  became  king. 

"  And  now,"  said  he  after  the  ceremony,  "  ladies  and  gen- 
tlemen, let's  go  to  supper.    I  am  so  hungry ! " 


THE    KATCATCIIEK* 

A  very  long  time  ago  the  town  of  Ilamel  in   Germany 
was  invaded  'by  bands  of  rats,  the  like  of  which  had  nevei 
been  seen  before  nor  will  ever  be  again. 
*  Ch.  iMai-elles. 


210  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

They  were  great  black  creatures  that  ran  boldly  in  broad 
daylight  through  the  streets,  and  swarmed  so,  all  over  the 
houses,  that  people  at  last  could  not  put  their  hand  or  foot 
down  anywhere  without  touching  one.  When  dressing  in  the 
morning  they  found  them  in  their  breeches  and  petticoats, 
in  their  pockets  and  in  their  boots;  and  when  they  wanted 
a  morsel  to  eat,  the  voracious  horde  had  swept  away  every- 
thing from  cellar  to  garret.  The  night  was  even  worse.  As 
soon  as  the  lights  were  out,  these  untiring  nibblers  set  to 
work.  And  everywhere,  in  the  ceilings,  in  the  floors,  in 
the  cupboards,  at  the  doors,  there  were  a  chase  and  a  rum- 
mage, and  so  furious  a  noise  of  gimlets,  pinchers,  and  saws 
that  a  deaf  man  could  not  have  rested  for  one  hour  together. 

Neither  cats  nor  dogs,  nor  poison  nor  traps,  nor  prayers 
nor  candles  burned  to  all  the  saints — nothing  would  do  any- 
thing. The  more  they  killed  the  more  came.  And  the  in- 
habitants of  Hamel  began  to  go  to  the  dogs  (not  that  they 
were  of  much  use),  when  one  Friday  there  arrived  in  the 
town  a  man  with  a  queer  face,  who  played  the  bagpipes 
and  sang  this  refrain: 

"  Qui  vivra  verra  : 
Le  voil&, 
Le  preneur  des  rats." 

He  was  a  great  gawky  fellow,  dry  and  bronzed,  with  a 
crooked  nose,  a  long  rat-tail  mustache,  two  great  yellow 
piercing  and  mocking  eyes,  under  a  large  felt  hat  set  off 
by  a  scarlet  cock's  feather.  He  was  dressed  in  a  green  jacket 
with  a  leather  belt  and  red  breeches,  and  on  his  feet  were 
sandals  fastened  by  thongs  passed  round  his  legs  in  the 
gypsy  fashion. 

That  is  how  he  may  be  seen  to  this  day,  painted  on  a 
window  of  the  cathedral  of  Hamel. 

He  stopped  on  the  great  market-place  before  the  town 

hall,  turned  his  back  to  the  church,  and  went  on  with  his 

music,  singing: 

Who  lives  shall  see: 
This  he  is, 
The  ratcatcher. 

The  town  council  had  just  assembled  to  consider  once 
more  this  plague  of  Egypt,  from  which  no  one  could  save  the 
town. 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  211 

The  stranger  sent  word  to  the  councilors  that,  if  they 
would  make  it  worth  his  while,  he  would  rid  them  of  all 
their  rats  before  night,  down  to  the  very  last. 

"  Then  he  is  a  sorcerer ! "  cried  the  citizens  with  one 
voice ;  "  we  must  beware  of  him." 

The  town  counselor,  who  was  considered  clever,  reas- 
sured them. 

He  said :  "  Sorcerer  or  no,  if  this  bagpiper  speaks  the 
truth,  it  was  he  who  sent  us  this  horrible  vermin  that  he 
wants  to  rid  us  of  to-day  for  money.  Well,  we  must  learn 
to  catch  the  devil  in  his  own  snares.    You  leave  it  to  me." 

"Leave  it  to  the  town  counselor,"  said  the  citizens  one 
to  another. 

And  the  stranger  was  brought  before  them. 

"  Before  night,"  said  he,  "  I  shall  have  dispatched  all  the 
rats  in  Hamel  if  you  will  pay  me  a  gros  a  head." 

"  A  gros  a  head ! "  cried  the  citizens,  "  but  that  will  come 
to  millions  of  florins ! " 

The  town  counselor  simply  shrugged  his  shoulders  and 
said  to  the  stranger: 

"  A  bargain !  To  work ;  the  rats  will  be  paid  one  gros 
a  head  as  you  ask." 

The  bagpiper  announced  that  he  would  operate  that  very 
evening  when  the  moon  rose.  He  added  that  the  inhabi- 
tants should  at  that  hour  leave  the  streets  free,  and  content 
themselves  with  looking  out  of  their  windows  at  what  was 
passing,  and  that  it  would  be  a  pleasant  spectacle.  When 
the  people  of  Hamel  heard  of  the  bargain,  they  too  ex- 
claimed: "A  gros  a  head!  but  this  will  cost  us  a  deal  of 
money ! " 

"Leave  it  to  the  town  counselor,"  said  the  town  council 
with  a  malicious  air.  And  the  good  people  of  Hamel  re- 
peated with  their  councilors,  "  Leave  it  to  the  town  coun- 
selor." 

Toward  nine  at  night  the  bagpiper  appeared  on  the  market- 
place. He  turned,  as  at  first,  his  back  to  the  church,  and  the 
moment  the  moon  rose  on  the  horizon,  "  Trarira,  trari !  "  the 
bagpipes  resounded. 

It  was  first  a  slow,  caressing  sound,  then  more  and  more 
lively  and  urgent,  and  so  sonorous  and  piercing  that  it  pene- 
trated as  far  as  the  furthest  alleys  and  retreats  of  the  town. 


212 


THE   RED   FAIRY    BOOK. 


Soon  from  the  bottom  of  the  cellars,  the  top  of  the  garrets, 
from  under  all  the  furniture,  from  all  the  nooks  and  corners 
of  the  houses,  out  come  the  rats,  search  for  the  door,  fling 
themselves  into  the  street,  and  trip,  trip,  trip,  begin  to  run 


in  file  toward  the  front  of  the  town  hall,  so  squeezed  together 
that  they  covered  the  pavement  like  the  waves  of  flooded  tor- 
rents. 

When  the  square  was  quite  full  the  bagpiper  faced  about, 
and,  still  playing  briskly,  turned  toward  the  river  that  runs 
at  the  foot  of  the  walls  of  Hamel. 

Arrived  there  he  turned  round;  the  rats  were  following. 

"  Hop !  hop ! "  he  cried,  pointing  with  his  finger  to  the 
middle  of  the  stream,  where  the  water  whirled  and  was 
drawn  down  as  if  through  a  funnel.  And  hop !  hop !  without 
hesitating,  the  rats  took  the  leap,  swam  straight  to  the  fun- 
nel, plunged  in  head  foremost  and  disappeared. 


THE  RED  FAIEY  BOOK.  213 

The  plunging  continued  thus  without  ceasing  till  mid- 
night. 

At  last,  dragging  himself  with  difficulty,  came  a  big  rat, 
white  with  age,  and  stopped  on  the  bank. 

It  was  the  king  of  the  band. 

"Are  they  all  there,  friend  Blanchet?"  asked  the  bag- 
piper. 

"  They  are  all  there,"  replied  friend  Blanchet. 

"  And  how  many  were  they  ?  " 

"Nine  hundred  and  ninety  thousand,  nine  hundred  and 
ninety-nine." 

"Well  reckoned?" 

"  Well  reckoned." 

"  Then  go  and  join  them,  old  sire,  and  au  revoir."  . 

Then  the  old  white  rat  sprang  in  his  turn  into  the  river, 
swam  to  the  whirlpool  and  disappeared. 

When  the  bagpiper  had  thus  concluded  his  business  he 
went  to  bed  at  his  inn.  And  for  the  first  time  during  three 
months  the  people  at  Hamel  slept  quietly  through  the 
night. 

The  next  morning,  at  nine  o'clock,  the  bagpiper  repaired 
to  the  town  hall,  where  the  town  council  awaited  him. 

"  All  your  rats  took  a  jump  into  the  river  yesterday," 
said  he  to  the  councilors,  "  and  I  guarantee  that  not  one 
of  them  comes  back.  They  were  nine  hundred  and  ninety 
thousand,  nine  hundred  and  ninety-nine,  at  one  gros  a 
head.     Reckon !  " 

"Let  us  reckon  the  heads  first.  One  gros  a  head  is  one 
head  the  gros.    Where  are  the  heads  ?  " 

The  ratcatcher  did  not  expect  this  treacherous  stroke 
He  paled  with  anger  and  his  eyes  flashed  fire. 

"  The  heads ! "  cried  he ;  "  if  you  care  about  them,  go 
and  find  them  in  the  river." 

"  So,"  replied  the  town  counselor,  "  you  refuse  to  hold  to 
the  terms  of  your  agreement?  We  ourselves  could  refuse 
you  all  payment.  But  you  have  been  of  use  to  us,  and  we 
will  not  let  you  go  without  recompense,"  and  he  offered  him 
fifty  crowns. 

"Keep  your  recompense  for  yourself,"  replied  the  rat- 
catcher proudly.  "  If  you  do  not  pay  me  I  will  be  paid  bj 
your  heirs." 


214  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

Thereupon  he  pulled  his  hat  down  over  his  eyes,  went 
hastily  out  of  the  hall,  and  left  town  without  speaking  to  a 
soul. 

When  the  Hamel  people  heard  how  the  affair  had  ended 
they  rubbed  their  hands,  and  with  no  more  scruple  than  their 
town  counselor,  they  laughed  over  the  ratcatcher,  who,  they 
said,  was  caught  in  his  own  trap.  But  what  made,  them 
laugh  above  all  was  his  threat  of  getting  himself  paid  by 
their  heirs.  Ha !  they  wished  that  they  only  had  such  credi- 
tors for  the  rest  of  their  lives. 

Next  day,  which  was  a  Sunday,  they  all  went  gayly  to 
church,  thinking  that  after  Mass  they  would  at  last  be  able 
to  eat  some  good  thing  that  the  rats  had  not  tasted  before 
them. 

They  never  suspected  the  terrible  surprise  that  awaited 
them  on  their  return  home.  No  children  anywhere,  they  had 
all  disappeared! 

"  Our  children !  where  are  our  poor  children  ? "  was  the 
cry  that  was  soon  heard  in  all  the  streets. 

Then  through  the  east  door  of  the  town  came  three 
little  boys,  who  cried  and  wept,  and  this  is  what  they  told : 

While  the  parents  were  at  church  a  wonderful  music  had 
resounded.  Soon  all  the  little  boys  and  all  the  little  girls 
that  had  been  left  at  home  had  gone  out,  attracted  by  the 
magic  sounds,  and  had  rushed  to  the  great  market-place. 
There  they  found  the  ratcatcher  playing  his  bagpipes  at 
the  same  spot  as  the  evening  before.  Then  the  stranger  had 
begun  to  walk  quickly,  and  they  had  followed,  running, 
singing,  and  dancing  to  the  sound  of  the  music,  as  far  as 
the  foot  of  the  mountain  which  one  sees  on  entering  Hamel. 
At  their  approach  the  mountain  had  opened  a  little,  and 
the  bagpiper  had  gone  in  with  them,  after  which  it  had 
closed  again.  Only  the  three  little  ones  who  told  the  ad- 
venture had  remained  outside,  as  if  by  a  miracle.  One  was 
bandy-legged  and  could  not  run  fast  enough;  the  other,  who 
had  left  the  house  in  haste,  one  foot  shod,  the  other  bare, 
had  hurt  himself  against  a  big  stone  and  could  not  walk 
without  difficulty;  the  third  had  arrived  in  time,  but  in 
hurrying  to  go  in  with  the  others  had  struck  so  violently 
against  the  wall  of  the  mountain  that  he  fell  backwards  at 
the  moment  it  closed  upon  his  comrades. 


THE   RED    FAIRY    BOOK. 


215 


At  this  story  the  parents  redoubled  their  lamentations. 
They  ran  with  their  pikes  and  mattocks  to  the  mountain,  and 
searched  till  evening  to  find  the  opening  by  which  their 
children  had  disappeared,  without  being  able  to  find  it.  At 
last,  the  night  falling,  they  returned  desolate  to  Hamel. 

But  the  most  unhappy  of  all  was  the  town  counselor,  for 
he  had  lost  three  little  boys  and  two  pretty  little  girls,  and 
to  crown  all,  the  people  of  Hamel  overwhelmed  him  with 


reproaches,  forgetting  that  the  evening  before  they  had  all 
agreed  with  him. 

What  had  become  of  all  these  unfortunate  children  ? 
.  The  parents  always  hoped  they  were  not  dead,  and  that 
the  ratcather,  who  certainly  must  have  come  out  of  the 
mountain,  would  have  taken  them  with  him  to  his  country. 
That  is  why  for  several  years  they  sent  in  search  of  them  to 
different  countries,  but  no  one  ever  came  on  the  trace  of  the 
poor  little  ones. 

It  was  not  till  much  later  that  anything  was  to  be  heard  of 
them. 

About  one  hundred  and  fifty  years  after  the  event,  when 
there  was  no  longer  one  left  of  the  fathers,  mothers,  brothers, 
or  sisters  of  that  day,  there  arrived  one  evening  in  Hamel 
some  merchants  of  Bremen  returning  from  the  East,  who 
asked  to  speak  with  the  citizens.     They  told  that  they,  in 


216  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

crossing  Hungary,  had  sojourned  in  a  mountainous  coun- 
try called  Transylvania,  where  the  inhabitants  only  spoke 
German,  while  all  around  them  nothing  was  spoken  but 
Hungarian.  These  people  also  declared  that  they  came 
from  Germany,  but  they  did  not  know  how  they  chanced  to 
be  in  this  strange  country.  "Now,"  said  the  merchants  of 
Bremen,  "these  Germans  cannot  be  other  than  the  de- 
scendants of  the  lost  children  of  Hamel." 

The  people  of  Hamel  did  not  doubt  it;  and  since  that 
day  they  regard  it  as  certain  that  the  Transylvanians  of 
Hungary  are  their  country  folk,  whose  ancestors,  as  children, 
were  brought  there  by  the  ratcatcher.  There  are  more  dim- 
cult  things  to  believe  than  that. 


TRUE  HISTOEY  OF  LITTLE  GOLDEN  HOOD.* 

You  know  the  tale  of  poor  Little  Red  Riding  Hood,  that 
the  wolf  deceived  and  devoured,  with  her  cake,  her  little 
butter  can,  and  her  grandmother;  well,  the  true  story  hap- 
pened quite  differently,  as  we  know  now.  And  first  of  all 
the  little  girl  was  called  and  is  still  called  Little  Golden 
Hood;  secondly,  it  was  not  she,  nor  the  good  granddame, 
but  the  wicked  wolf  who  was,  in  the  end,  caught  and  de- 
voured. 

Only  listen. 

The  story  begins  something  like  the  tale. 

There  was  once  a  little  peasant  girl,  pretty  and  nice  as 
a  star  in  its  season.  Her  real  name  was  Blanchette,  but 
she  was  more  often  called  Little  Golden  Hood,  on  account 
of  a  wonderful  little  cloak  with  a  hood,  gold  and  fire  colored, 
which  she  always  had  on.  This  little  hood  was  given  her  by 
her  grandmother,  who  was  so  old  that  she  did  not  know  her 
age;  it  ought  to  bring  her  good  luck,  for  it  was  made  of  a 
ray  of  sunshine,  she  said.  And  as  the  good  old  woman  was 
considered  something  of  a  witch,  everyone  thought  the  little 
hood  rather  bewitched  too. 

And  so  it  was,  as  you  will  see. 

One  day  the  mother  said  to  the  child:  "Let  us  see,  my 
littk  Golden  Hood,  if  you  know  now  how  to  find  your  way  by 
*Ch.  MarelleB. 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  217 

yourself.  You  shall  take  this  good  piece  of  cake  to  your 
grandmother  for  a  Sunday  treat  to-morrow.  You  will  ask 
her  how  she  is,  and  come  back  at  once,  without  stopping  to 
chatter  on  the  way  with  people  who  don't  know.  Do  you 
quite  understand  ? " 

"  I  quite  understand,"  replied  Blanchette  gayly.  And 
off  she  went  with  the  cake,  quite  proud  of  her  errand. 

But  the  grandmother  lived  in  another  village,  and  there 
was  a  big  wood  to  cross  before  getting  there.  At  a  turn  of 
the   road   under   the   trees,    suddenly   "  Who   goes   there  ? " 

"  Friend  Wolf." 

He  had  seen  the  child  start  alone,  and  the  villain  was  wait- 
ing to  devour  her,  when  at  the  same  moment  he  perceived 
some  wood-cutters  who  might  observe  him,  and  he  changed 
his  mind.  Instead  of  falling  upon  Blanchette  he  came  frisk- 
ing up  to  her  like  a  good  dog. 

"  'Tis  you !  my  nice  Little  Golden  Hood,"  said  he.  So  the 
little  girl  stops  to  talk  with  the  wolf,  who,  for  all  that,  she 
did  not  know  in  the  least. 

"  You  know  me,  then  I  "  said  she ;  "  what  is  your  name  ?  " 

"  My  name  is  friend  Wolf.  And  where  are  you  going  thus, 
my  pretty  one,  with  your  little  basket  on  your  arm  ? " 

"  I  am  going  to  my  grandmother,  to  take  her  a  good  piece 
of  cake  for  her  Sunday  treat  to-morrow." 

"  And  where  does  she  live,  your  grandmother  ?  " 

11  She  lives  at  the  other  side  of  the  wood,  in  the  first 
house  in  the  village,  near  the  windmill,  you  know." 

"  Ah !  yes !  I  know  now,"  said  the  wolf.  "  Well,  that's  just 
where  I'm  going ;  I  shall  get  there  before  you,  no  doubt,  with 
your  little  bits  of  legs,  and  I'll  tell  her  you're  coming  to  see 
her;  then  she'll  wait  for  you." 

Thereupon  the  wolf  cuts  across  the  wood,  and  in  five  min- 
utes arrives  at  the  grandmother's  house* 

He  knocks  at  the  door:  toe,  toe. 

No  answer. 

He  knocks  louder. 

Nobody. 

Then  he  stands  up  ©n  end,  puts  his  two  fore  paws  on  the 
latch,  and  the  door  opens. 

Not  a  soul  in  the  house. 

The  old  woman  had  risen  early  to  sell  herbs  in  the  town, 


218  THE  BED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

and  she  had  gone  off  in  such  haste  that  she  had  left  her 
bed  unmade,  with  her  great  night-cap  on  the  pillow. 

"  Good! "  said  the  wolf  to  himself,  "  I  know  what  I'll  do." 

He  shuts  the  door,  pulls  on  the  grandmother's  night-cap 
down  to  his  eyes,  then  he  lies  down  all  his  length  in  the  bed 
and  draws  the  curtains. 

In  the  meantime  the  good  Blanchette  went  quietly  on  her 
way,  as  little  girls  do,  amusing  herself  here  and  there  by 
picking  Easter  daisies,  watching  the  little  birds  making 
their  nests,  and  running  after  the  butterflies  which  flut- 
tered in  the  sunshine. 

At  last  she  arrives  at  the  door. 

Knock,  knock. 

"  Who  is  there  ? "  says  the  wolf,  softening  his  rough 
voice  as  best  he  can. 

"  It's  me,  granny,  your  Little  Golden  Hood.  I'm  bring- 
ing you  a  big  piece  of  cake  for  your  Sunday  treat  to-mor- 
row." 

"Press  your  finger  on  the  latch,  then  push  and  the  door 
opens." 

"  Why,  you've  got  a  cold,  granny,"  said  she,  coming  in. 

"Ahem!  a  little,  my  dear,  a  little,"  replies  the  wolf, 
pretending  to  cough.  "  Shut  the  door  well,  my  little  lamb. 
Put  your  basket  on  the  table,  and  then  tak6  off  your  frock 
and  come  and  lie  down  by  me;  you  shall  rest  a  little." 

The  good  child  undresses,  but  observe  this !  She  kept  her 
little  hood  upon  her  head.  When  she  saw  what  a  figure 
her  granny  cut  in  bed,  the  poor  little  thing  was  much  sur- 
prised. 

"  Oh !  "  cries  she,  "  how  like  you  are  to  friend  Wolf,  grand- 
mother ! " 

"  That's  on  account  of  my  night-cap,  child,"  replies  the 
wolf. 

"Oh!  what  ha^ry  arms  you've  got,  grandmother!" 

"  All  the  better  to  hug  you,  my  child." 

"  Oh !  what  a  big  tongue  you've  got,  grandmother !  " 

"  All  the  better  for  answering,  child." 

"  Oh !  what  a  mouthful  of  great  white  teeth  you  have, 
grandmother !  " 

"  That's  for  crunching  little  children  with ! "  And  the 
wolf  opened  his  jaws  wide  to  swallow  Blanchette. 


THE   RED    FAIRY   BOOK. 


219 


But  she  put  down  her  head,  crying: 

"  Mamma !  mamma ! "  and  the  wolf  only  caught  her  little 
hood. 

Thereupon,  oh,  dear!  oh,  dear!  he  draws  back,  crying  and 
shaking  his  jaw  as  if  he  had  swallowed  red-hot  coals. 

It  was  the  little  fire-colored  hood  that  had  burnt  his 
tongue  right  down  his  throat. 

The  little  hood,   you  see,  was  one  of  those  magic  caps 


that  they  used  to  have  in  former  times,  in  the  stories,  fof 
making  one's  self  invisible  or  invulnerable. 

So  there  was  the  wolf  with  his  throat  burned,  jumping 
off  the  bed  and  trying  to  find  the  door,  howling  and  howl- 
ing as  if  all  the  dogs  in  the  country  were  at  his  heels. 

Just  at  this  moment  the  grandmother  arrives,  returning 
from  the  town  with  her  long  sack  empty  on  her  shoulder. 

*  Ah,  brigand !  "  she  cries,  "  wait  a  bit !  "     Quickly  she 


220  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

opens  her  sack  wide  across  the  door,  and  the  maddened  wolf 
springs  in  head  downward. 

It  is  he  now  that  is  caught,  swallowed  like  a  letter  in  the 
post. 

For  the  brave  old  dame  shuts  her  sack,  so;  and  she  runs 
and  empties  it  in  the  well,  where  the  vagabond,  still  howling, 
tumbles  in  and  is  drowned. 

"  Ah,  scoundrel !  you  thought  you  would  crunch  my  little 
grandchild!  Well,  to-morrow  we  will  make  her  a  muff  of 
your  skin,  and  you  yourself  shall  be  crunched,  for  we  will 
give  your  carcass  to  the  dogs." 

Thereupon  the  grandmother  hastened  to  dress  poor 
Blanchette,  who  was  still  trembling  with  fear  in  the  bed. 

"  Well,"  she  said  to  her,  "  without  my  little  hood  where 
would  you  be  now,  darling  ? "  And,  to  restore  heart  and  legs 
to  the  child,  she  made  her  eat  a  good  piece  of  her  cake,  and 
drink  a  good  draught  of  wine,  after  which  she  took  her  by 
the  hand  and  led  her  back  to  the  house. 

And  then,  who  was  it  who  scolded  her  when  she  knew  all 
that  had  happened? 

It  was  the  mother. 

But  Blanchette  promised  over  and  over  again  that  she 
would  never  more  stop  to  listen  to  a  wolf,  so  that  at  last 
the  mother  forgave  her. 

And  Blanchette,  the  Little  Golden  Hood,  kept  her  word. 
And  in  fine  weather  she  may  still  be  seen  in  the  fields  with 
her  pretty  little  hood,  the  color  of  the  sun. 

But  to  see  her  you  must  rise  early. 


THE  GOLDEN"  BKANCH* 

Once  upon  a  time  there  was  a  king  who  was  so  morose  and 
disagreeable  that  he  was  feared  by  all  his  subjects,  and  with 
good  reason,  as  for  the  most  trifling  offenses  he  would  have 
their  heads  cut  off.  This  King  Grumpy,  as  he  was  called, 
had  one  son,  who  was  as  different  from  his  father  as  he  could 
possibly  be.  No  prince  equaled  him  in  cleverness  and  kind- 
ness of  heart,  but  unfortunately  he  was  most  terribly  ugly. 
He  had  crooked  legs  and  squinting  eyes,  a  large  mouth  all  on 
*  Le  Rameau  cP  Or.    Par  Madame  d'Aulnoy. 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  221 

one  side,  and  p.  humped  back.  Never  was  there  such  a  beau- 
tiful soul  in  such  a  frightful  little  body,  but  in  spite  of  his 
appearance  everybody  loved  him.  The  queen,  his  mother, 
called  him  Curlicue,  because  it  was  a  name  she  rather  liked, 
and  it  seemed  to  suit  him. 

King  Grumpy,  who  cared  a  great  deal  more  for  his  own 
grandeur  than  for  his  son's  happiness,  wished  to  betroth 
the  prince  to  the  daughter  of  a  neighboring  king,  whose 
great  estates  joined  his  own,  for  he  thought  that  this  alliance 
would  make  him  more  powerful  than  ever,  and  as  for  the 
princess,  she  would  do  very  well  for  Prince  Curlicue,  for 
she  was  as  ugly  as  himself.  Indeed,  though  she  was  the 
most  amiable  creature  in  the  world,  there  was  no  concealing 
the  fact  that  she  was  frightful,  and  so  lame  that  she  always 
went  about  with  a  crutch,  and  people  called  her  Princess 
Cabbage-Stalk. 

The  king,  ha  ring  asked  for  and  received  a  portrait  of  this 
princess,  had  it  placed  in  his  great  hall  under  a  canopy,  and 
sent  for  Prince  Curlicue,  to  whom  he  said  that  as  this  was 
the  portrait  of  his  future  bride,  he  hoped  the  prince  found 
it  charming. 

The  prince  after  one  glance  at  it  turned  away  with  a  dis- 
dainful air,  which  greatly  offended  his  father. 

"  Am  I  to  understand  that  you  are  not  pleased  ? "  he  said 
very  sharply. 

"No,  sire,"  replied  the  prince.  "How  could  I  be  pleased 
to  marry  an  ugly,  lame  princess  ? " 

"  Certainly  it  is  becoming  in  you  to  object  to  that,"  said 
King  Grumpy,  "  since  you  are  ugly  enough  to  frighten  any- 
one yourself." 

"  That  is  the  very  reason,"  said  the  prince,  "  that  I  wish 
to  marry  someone  who  is  not  ugly.  I  am  quite  tired  enough 
of  seeing  myself." 

"  I  tell  you  that  you  shall  marry  her,"  cried  King  Grumpy 
angrily. 

And  the  prince,  seeing  that  it  was  of  no  use  to  remon- 
strate, bowed  and  retired. 

As  King  Grumpy  was  not  used  to  being  contradicted  in 
anything,  he  was  very  much  displeased  with  his  son,  and 
ordered  that  he  should  be  imprisoned  in  the  tower  that  was 
kept  on  purpose  for  rebellious  princes,  but  had  not  been  used 


222  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

for  about  two  hundred  years,  because  there  had  not  been 
any.  The  prince  thought  all  the  rooms  looked  strangely 
old-fashioned,  with  their  antique  furniture,  but  as  there  was 
a  good  library  he  was  pleased,  for  he  was  very  fond  of  read- 
ing, and  he  soon  got  permission  to  have  as  many  books  as  he 
liked.  But  when  he  looked  at  them  he  found  that  they  were 
written  in  a  forgotten  language,  and  he  could  not  understand 
a  single  word,  though  he  amused  himself  with  trying. 

King  Grumpy  was  so  convinced  that  Prince  Curlicue 
would  soon  get  tired  of  being  in  prison,  and  so  consent  to 
marry  the  Princess  Cabbage-Stalk,  that  he  sent  ambassa- 
dors to  her  father  proposing  that  she  should  come  and  be 
married  to  his  son,  who  would  make  her  perfectly  happy. 

The  king  was  delighted  to  receive  so  good  an  offer  for  his 
unlucky  daughter,  though,  to  tell  the  truth,  he  found  it  im- 
possible to  admire  the  prince's  portrait  which  had  been  sent 
to  him.  However,  he  had  it  placed  in  as  favorable  a  light 
as  possible,  and  sent  for  the  princess,  but  the  moment  she 
caught  sight  of  it  she  looked  the  other  way  and  began  to 
cry.  The  king,  who  was  very  much  annoyed  to  see  how 
greatly  she  disliked  it,  took  a  mirror,  and  holding  it  up  be- 
fore the  unhappy  princess,  said: 

"  I  see  you  do  not  think  the  prince  handsome,  but  look  at 
yourself,  and  see  if  you  have  any  right  to  complain  about 
that." 

"  Sire,"  she  antwered,  "  I  do  not  wish  to  complain,  only  I 
beg  of  you  do  not  make  me  marry  at  all.  I  would  rather 
be  the  unhappy  Princess  Cabbage-Stalk  all  my  life  than  in- 
flict the  sight  of  my  ugliness  on  anyone  else." 

But  the  king  would  not  listen  to  her,  and  sent  her  away 
with  the  ambassadors. 

In  the  meantime  the  prince  was  kept  safely  locked  up 
in  his  tower,  and,  that  he  might  be  as  dull  as  possible,  King 
Grumpy  ordered  that  no  one  should  speak  to  him,  and  that 
they  should  give  him  next  to  nothing  to  eat.  But  all  the 
prince's  guards  were  so  fond  of  him  that  they  did  everything 
they  dared,  in  spite  of  the  king,  to  make  the  time  pass 
pleasantly. 

One  day,  as  the  prince  was  walking  up  and  down  the  great 
gallery,  thinking  how  miserable  it  was  to  be  ugly,  and  to  be 
forced  to  marry  an  equally  frightful  princess,  he  looked  up 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  223 

suddenly  and  noticed  that  the  painted  windows  were  particu- 
larly bright  and  beautiful,  and  for  the  sake  of  doing  some- 
thing that  would  change  his  sad  thoughts  he  began  to  exam- 
ine them  attentively.  He  found  tkat  the  pictures  seemed  to 
be  scenes  from  the  life  of  a  man  who  appeared  in  every  win- 
dow, and  the  prince,  fancying  that  he  saw  in  this  man  some 
resemblance  to  himself,  began  to  be  deeply  interested.  In 
the  first  window  there  was  a  picture  of  him  in  one  of  the 
turrets  of  the  tower,  further  on  he  was  seeking  something 
in  a  chink  in  the  wall,  in  the  next  picture  he  was  opening 
an  old  cabinet  with  a  golden  key,  and  so  it  went  on  through 
numbers  of  scenes,  and  presently  the  prince  noticed  that 
another  figure  occupied  the  most  important  place  in  each 
scene,  and  this  time  it  was  a  tall,  handsome  young  man; 
poor  Prince  Curlicue  found  it  a  pleasure  to  look  at  him,  he 
was  so  straight  and  strong.  By  this  time  it  had  grown  dark, 
and  the  prince  had  to  go  back  to  his  own  room,  and  to  amuse 
himself  he  took  up  a  quaint  old  book  and  began  to  look  at 
the  pictures.  But  his  surprise  was  great  to  find  that  they 
represented  the  same  scenes  as  the  windows  of  the  gallery, 
and  what  was  more,  that  they  seemed  to  be  alive.  In  look- 
ing at  pictures  of  musicians  he  saw  their  hands  move  and 
heard  sweet  sounds;  there  was  a  picture  of  a  ball,  and  the 
prince  could  watch  the  little  dancing  people  come  and  go. 
He  turned  a  page,  and  there  was  an  excellent  smell  of 
savory  dinner,  and  one  of  the  figures  who  sat  at  the  feast 
looked  at  him  and  said : 

"We  drink  your  health,  Curlicue.  Try  to  give  us  our 
queen  again,  for  if  you  do  you  will  be  rewarded;  if  not,  it 
will  be  the  worse  for  you." 

At  these  words  the  prince,  who  had  been  growing  more  and 
more  astonished,  was  fairly  terrified,  and  dropping  the  book 
with  a  crash  he  sank  back  insensible.  The  noise  he  made 
brought  his  guards  to  his  aid,  and  as  soon  as  he  revived  they 
asked  him  what  was  the  matter.  He  answered  that  he  was 
so  faint  and  giddy  with  hunger  that  he  had  imagined  he  saw 
and  heard  all  sorts  of  strange  things.  Thereupon  in  spite 
of  the  king's  orders  the  guards  gave  him  an  excellent  sup- 
per, and  when  he  had  eaten  it  he  again  opened  his  book, 
but  could  see  none  of  the  wonderful  pictures,  which  con- 
vinced him  that  he  must  have  been  dreaming  before. 


224  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

However,  when  he  went  into  the  gallery  next  day  and 
looked  at  the  painted  windows  again,  he  found  that  they 
moved,  and  the  figures  came  and  went  as  if  they  had  been 
alive,  and  after  watching  the  one  who  was  like  himself 
find  the  key  in  the  crack  of  the  turret  wall  and  open  the  old 
cabinet,  he  determined  to  go  and  examine  the  place  him- 
self, and  try  to  find  out  what  the  mystery  was.  So  he  went 
up  into  the  turret  and  began  tc  search  about  and  tap  upon  the 
walls,  and  all  at  once  he  came  upon  a  place  that  sounded 
hollow.  Taking  a  hammer  he  broke  away  a  bit  of  the  stone, 
and  found  behind  it  a  little  golden  key.  The  next  thing 
to  do  was  to  find  the  cabinet,  and  the  prince  soon  came  to  it, 
hidden  away  in  a  dark  corner,  though  indeed  it  was  so  old 
and  battered-looking  that  he  would  never  have  noticed  it 
of  his  own  accord.  At  first  he  could  not  see  any  keyhole,  but 
after  a  careful  search  he  found  one  hidden  in  the  carving, 
and  the  golden  key  just  fitted  it;  so  the  prince  gave  it  a 
vigorous  turn  and  the  doors  flew  open. 

Ugly  and  old  as  the  cabinet  was  outside,  nothing  could 
have  been  more  rich  and  beautiful  than  what  met  the 
prince's  astonished  eyes.  Every  drawer  was  made  of  crystal, 
of  amber,  or  of  some  precious  stone,  and  was  quite  full  of 
every  kind  of  treasure.  Prince  Curlicue  was  delighted;  he 
opened  one  after  another,  until  at  last  he  came  to  one  tiny 
drawer  which  contained  only  an  emerald  key. 

"  I  believe  that  this  must  open  that  little  golden  door  in 
the  middle,"  said  the  prince  to  himself.  And  he  fitted  in 
the  little  key  and  turned  it.  The  tiny  door  swung  back, 
and  a  soft  crimson  light  gleamed  over  the  whole  cabinet. 
The  prince  found  that  it  proceeded  from  an  immense  glowing 
carbuncle,  made  into  a  box,  which  lay  before  him.  He  lost 
no  time  in  opening  it,  but  what  was  his  horror  when  he 
found  that  it  contained  a  man's  hand,  which  was  holding 
a  portrait.  His  first  thought  was  to  put  back  the  terrible 
box  and  fly  from  the  turret;  but  a  voice  in  his  ear  said: 
"  This  hand  belonged  to  one  whom  you  can  help  and  re- 
store. Look  at  this  beautiful  portrait,  the  original  of  which 
was  the  cause  of  all  my  misfortunes,  and  if  you  wish  to  help 
me,  go  without  a  moment's  delay  to  the  great  gallery,  no- 
tfce  where  the  sun's  rays  fall  most  brightly,  and  if  you  seek 
there  you  will  find  my  treasure." 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  225 

The  voice  ceased,  and  though  the  prince  in  his  bewilder- 
ment asked  various  questions,  he  received  no  answer.  So  he 
put  back  the  box  and  locked  the  cabinet  up  again,  and,  hav- 
ing replaced  the  key  in  the  crack  in  the  wall,  hastened  dowr 
to  the  gallery. 

When  he  entered  it  all  the  windows  shook  and  clattered 
in  the  strangest  way,  but  the  prince  did  not  heed  them; 
he  was  looking  so  carefully  for  the  place  where  the  sun 
shone  most  brightly,  and  it  seemed  to  him  that  it  was  upon 
the  portrait  of  a  most  splendidly  handsome  and  well-dressed 
young  man. 

He  went  up  and  examined  it,  and  found  that  it  rested 
against  the  ebony  and  gold  paneling,  just  like  any  of  the 
other  pictures  in  the  gallery.  He  was  puzzled,  not  knowing 
what  to  do  next,  until  it  occurred  to  him  to  see  if  the  win- 
dows would  help  him,  and,  looking  at  the  nearest,  he  saw  a 
picture  of  himself  lifting  the  picture  from  the  wall. 

The  prince  took  the  hint,  and  lifting  aside  the  picture  with- 
out difficulty,  found  himself  in  a  marble  hall  adorned  with 
statues;  from  this  he  passed  on  through  numbers  of  splen- 
did rooms,  until  at  last  he  reached  one  all  hung  with  blue 
gauze.  The  walls  were  of  turquoises,  and  upon  a  low  couch 
lay  a  lovely  lady,  who  seemed  to  be  asleep.  Her  hair,  black 
as  ebony,  was  spread  across  the  pillows,  making  her  face  look 
ivory-white,  and  the  prince  noticed  that  she  was  unquiet; 
and  when  he  softly  advanced,  fearing  to  wake  her,  he  could 
hear  her  sigh,  and  murmur  to  herself : 

"  Ah !  how  dared  you  think  to  win  my  love  by  separating 
me  from  my  beloved  Florimond,  and  in  my  presence  cutting 
off  that  dear  hand  that  even  you  should  have  feared  and 
honored?" 

And  then  the  tears  rolled  slowly  down  the  lovely  lady's 
cheeks,  and  Prince  Curlicue  began  to  comprehend  that  she 
was  under  an  enchantment,  and  that  it  was  the  hand  of 
her  lover  that  he  had  found. 

At  this  moment  a  huge  eagle  flew  into  the  room,  holding 
in  its  talons  a  golden  branch,  upon  which  were  growing 
what  looked  like  clusters  of  cherries,  only  every  cherry  was 
a  single  glowing  ruby. 

This  he  presented  to  the  prince,  who  guessed  by  this  time 
that  he  was  in  some  way  to  break  the  enchantment  that 


226  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

surrounded  the  sleeping  lady.  Taking  the  branch  he  touched 
her  lightly  with  it,  saying: 

"  Fair  one,  I  know  not  by  what  enchantment  thou  art 
bound,  but  in  the  name  of  thy  beloved  Florimond  I  conjure 
thee  to  come  back  to  the  life  which  thou  hast  lost,  but  noi 
forgotten." 

Instantly  the  lady  opened  her  lustrous  eyes,  and  saw  the 
eagle  hovering  near. 

"  Ah !  stay,  dear  love,  stay,"  she  cried.  But  the  eagle, 
uttering  a  dolorous  cry,  fluttered  his  broad  wings  and  dispp- 
peared.    Then  the  lady  turned  to  Prince  Curlicue,  and  said : 

"I  know  that  it  is  to  you  I  owe  my  deliverance  from  an 
enchantment  which  has  held  me  for  two  hundred  years.  If 
there  is  anything  I  can  do  for  you  in  return,  you  have  only 
to  tell  me,  and  all  my  fairy  power  shall  be  used  to  make  you 
happy." 

"  Madam,"  said  Prince  Curlicue,  "  I  wish  to  be  allowed  to 
restore  your  beloved  Florimond  to  his  natural  form,  since  I 
cannot  forget  the  tears  you  shed  for  him." 

"  That  is  very  amiable  of  you,  dear  prince,"  said  the  fairy, 
"  but  it  is  reserved  for  another  person  to  do  that.  I  cannot 
explain  more  at  present.  But  is  there  nothing  you  wish  for 
yourself  ?  " 

"Madam,"  cried  the  prince,  flinging  himself  down  at  her 
feet,  "  only  look  at  my  ugliness.  I  am  called  Curlicue,  and 
am  an  object  of  derision;  I  entreat  you  to  make  me  less 
ridiculous." 

"Rise,  prince,"  said  the  fairy,  touching  him  with  the 
golden  branch.  "  Be  as  accomplished  as  you  are  handsome, 
and  take  the  name  of  Prince  Peerless,  since  that  is  the  only 
title  which  will  suit  you  now." 

Silent  from  joy,  the  prince  kissed  her  hand  to  express  his 
thanks,  and  when  he  rose  and  saw  his  new  reflection  in 
the  mirrors  which  surrounded  him,  he  understood  that  Cur- 
licue was  indeed  gone  forever. 

"How  I  wish,"  said  the  fairy,  "that  I  dared  to  tell  you 
what  is  in  store  for  you,  and  warn  you  of  the  traps  which 
lie  in  your  path,  but  I  must  not.  Fly  from  the  tower,  prince, 
and  remember  that  the  fairy  Douceline  will  be  your  friend 
always." 

When  she  had  finished  speaking  the  prince,  to  his  great 


THE    RED    FAIRY   BOOK. 


227 


astonishment,  found  himself  no  longer  in  the  tower,  but  set 
down  in  a  thick  forest  at  least  a  hundred  leagues  away  from 
it.  And  there  we  must  leave  him  for  the  present,  and  see 
what  is  happening  elsewhere. 

When  the  guards  found  that  the  prince  did  not  ask  for 
his  supper  as  usual,  they  went  into  his  room,  and  not  finding 
him  there,  were  very  much  alarmed,  and  searched  the  tower 
from  turret  to  dungeon,  but  without  success.  Knowing  that 
the  king  would  certainly  have  their  heads  cut  off  for  allowing 
the  prince  to  escape,  they  then  agreed  to  say  that  he  was  ill, 
and  after  making  the  smallest  among  them  look  as  much  like 


Prince  Curlicue  as  possible,  they  put  him  into  his  bed  and 
sent  to  inform  the  king. 

King  Grumpy  was  quite  delighted  to  hear  that  his  son 
was  ill,  for  he  thought  that  he  would  all  the  sooner  be 
brought  to  do  as  he  wished,  and  marry  the  princess.  So 
he  sent  back  to  the  guards  to  say  that  the  prince  was  to  be 
treated  as  severely  as  before,  which  was  just  what  they  had 
hoped  he  would  say.  In  the  meantime  the  Princess  Cab- 
bage-Stalk had  reached  the  palace,  traveling  in  a  litter. 

King  Grumpy  went  out  to  meet  her,  but  when  he  saw  her, 


228  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

with  a  skin  like  a  tortoise's,  her  thick  eyebrows  meeting 
above  her  large  nose,  and  her  mouth  from  ear  to  ear,  he 
could  not  help  crying  out : 

"Well,  I  must  say  Curlicue  is  ugly  enough,  but  I  don't 
think  you  need  have  thought  twice  before  consenting  to 
marry  him." 

"  Sire,"  she  replied,  "  I  know  too  well  what  I  am  like  to 
be  hurt  by  what  you  say,  but  I  assure  you  that  I  have  no 
wish  to  marry  your  son.  I  had  rather  be  called  Princess 
Cabbage-Stalk  than  Queen  Curlicue." 

This  made  King  Grumpy  very  angry. 

"  Your  father  has  sent  you  here  to  marry  my  son,"  he 
said,  "  and  you  may  be  sure  that  I  am  not  going  to  offend 
him  by  altering  his  arrangements."  So  the  poor  princess 
was  sent  away  in  disgrace  to  her  own  apartments,  and  the 
ladies  who  attended  upon  her  were  charged  to  bring  her  to  a 
better  mind. 

At  this  juncture  the  guards,  who  were  in  great  fear  that 
they  would  be  found  out,  sent  to  tell  the  king  that  his  son 
was  dead,  which  annoyed  him  very  much.  He  at  once  made 
up  his  mind  that  it  was  entirely  the  princess'  fault,  and 
gave  orders  that  she  should  be  imprisoned  in  the  tower  in 
Prince  Curlicue's  place.  The  Princess  Cabbage-Stalk  was 
immensely  astonished  at  this  unjust  proceeding,  and  sent 
many  messages  of  remonstrance  to  King  Grumpy,  but  he 
was  in  such  a  temper  that  no  one  dared  to  deliver  them, 
or  to  send  the  letters  which  the  princess  wrote  to  her  father. 
However,  as  she  did  not  know  this,  she  lived  in  hope  of  soon 
going  back  to  her  own  country,  and  tried  to  amuse  herself  as 
well  as  she  could  until  the  time  should  come.  Every  day 
she  walked  up  and  down  the  long  gallery,  until  she  too  was 
attracted  by  the  ever-changing  pictures  in  the  windows,  and 
recognized  herself  in  one  of  the  figures.  "  They  seem  to  have 
taken  a  great  delight  in  painting  me  since  I  came  to  this 
country,"  she  said  to  herself.  "  One  would  think  that  I  and 
my  crutch  were  put  in  on  purpose  to  make  that  slim,  charm- 
ing young  shepherdess  in  the  next  picture  look  prettier  by 
contrast.  Ah!  how  nice  it  would  be  to  be  as  pretty  as  that." 
And  then  she  looked  at  herself  in  a  mirror,  and  turned  away 
quickly  with  tears  in  her  eyes  from  the  doleful  sight.  All 
at  once  she  became  aware  that  she  was  not  alone,  for  be- 


THE   RED    FAIRY    BOOK. 


229 


kind  her  stood  a  tiny  old  woman  in  a  cap,  who  was  as  ugly 
again  as  herself  and  quite  as  lame. 

"  Princess,"  she  said,  "  your  regrets  are  so  piteous  that 
I  have  come  to  offer  you  the  choice  of  goodness  or  beauty. 
If  you  wish  to  be  pretty  you  shall  have  your  way,  but  you 
will  also  be  vain,  capricious,  and  frivolous.  If  you  remain 
as  you  are  now,  you  shall  be  wise  and  amiable  and  modest." 

"  Alas !  madam,"  cried  the  princess,  "  is  it  impossible 
to  be  at  once  wise  and  beautiful  ? " 

"No,  child,"  answered  the  old  woman,  "only  to  you  it  is 


decreed  tnat  you  must  choose  between  the  two.  See,  I  have 
brought  with  me  my  white-and-yellow  muff.  Breathe  upon 
the  yellow  side  and  you  will  become  like  the  pretty  shep- 
herdess you  so  much  admire,  and  you  will  have  won  the  love 
of  the  handsome  shepherd  whose  picture  I  have  already  seen 


230  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

you  studying  with  interest.  Breathe  upon  the  white  side 
and  your  looks  will  not  alter,  but  you  will  grow  better  and 
happier  day  by  day.    Now  you  may  choose." 

"  Ah,  well,"  said  the  princess,  "  I  suppose  one  can't  have 
everything,  and  it's  certainly  better  to  be  good  than  pretty." 

And  so  she  breathed  upon  the  white  side  of  the  muff 
and  thanked  the  old  fairy,  who  immediately  disappeared. 
The  Princess  Cabbage-Stalk  felt  very  forlorn  when  she  was 
gone,  and  began  to  think  that  it  was  quite  time  her  father 
sent  an  army  to  rescue  her. 

"  If  I  could  but  get  up  into  the  turret,"  she  thought,  "  to 
see  if  anyone  is  coming."  But  to  climb  up  there  seemed  im- 
impossible.  Nevertheless  she  presently  hit  upon  a  plan. 
The  great  clock  was  in  the  turret,  as  she  knew,  though  the 
weights  hung  down  into  the  gallery.  Taking  one  of  them  off 
the  rope,  she  tied  itself  on  in  its  place,  and  when  the  clock 
was  wound,  up  she  went  triumphantly  into  the  turret.  She 
looked  out  over  the  country  the  first  thing,  but  seeing  noth- 
ing she  sat  down  to  rest  a  little,  and  accidentally  leaned  back 
against  the  wall  which  Curlicue,  or  rather  Prince  Peerless, 
had  so  hastily  mended.  Out  fell  the  broken  stone,  and  with 
it  the  golden  key.  The  clatter  it  made  upon  the  floor  at- 
tracted the  Princess  Cabbage- Stalk's  attention. 

She  picked  it  up,  and  after  a  moment's  consideration  de- 
cided that  it  must  belong  to  the  curious  cabinet  in  the  cor- 
ner, which  had  no  visible  keyhole.  And  then  it  was  not 
long  before  she  had  it  open,  and  was  admiring  the  treasures 
it  contained  as  much  as  Prince  Peerless  had  done  before  her, 
and  at  last  she  came  to  the  carbuncle  box.  No  sooner  had  she 
opened  it  than  with  a  shudder  of  horror  she  tried  to  throw  it 
down,  but  found  that  some  mysterious  power  compelled  her 
to  hold  it  against  her  will.  And  at  this  moment  a  voice  in 
her  ear  said  softly: 

"  Take  courage,  princess ;  upon  this  adventure  your  fu- 
ture happiness  depends." 

"  What  am  I  to  do  ? "  said  the  princess,  trembling. 

"  Take  the  box,"  replied  the  voice,  "  and  hide  it  under 
your  pillow,  and  when  you  see  an  eagle,  give  it  to  him  with- 
out losing  a  moment." 

Terrified  as  the  princess  wa9,  she  did  not  hesitate  to  obey, 
and  hastened  to  put  back  all  the  other  precious  things  pre- 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  231 

cisely  as  she  had  found  them.  By  this  time  her  guards  were 
seeking  her  everywhere,  and  they  were  amazed  to  find  her 
up  in  the  turret,  for  they  said  she  could  have  only  got 
there  by  magic.  For  three  days  nothing  happened,  but  at 
last  in  the  night  the  princess  heard  something  flutter  against 
her  window,  and  drawing  back  the  curtains  she  saw  in  the 
moonlight  that  it  was  an  eagle. 

Limping  across  at  her  utmost  speed  she  threw  the  window 
open,  and  the  great  eagle  sailed  in,  beating  with  his  wings 
for  joy.  The  princess  lost  no  time  in  offering  it  the  carbnucle 
box,  which  it  grasped  in  its  talons,  and  instantly  disappeared, 
leaving  in  its  place  the  most  beautiful  prince  she  had  ever 
seen,  who  was  splendidly  dressed,  and  wore  a  diamond 
crown. 

"  Princess,"  said  he,  "  for  two  hundred  years  has  a  wicked 
enchanter  kept  me  here.  We  both  loved  the  same  fairy, 
but  she  preferred  me.  However,  he  was  more  powerful  than 
I,  and  succeeded,  when  for  a  moment  I  was  off  my  guard,  in 
changing  me  into  an  eagle,  while  my  queen  was  left  in  an 
enchanted  sleep.  I  knew  that  after  two  hundred  years  a 
prince  would  recall  her  to  the  light  of  day,  and  a  princess,  in 
restoring  to  me  the  hand  which  my  enemy  had  cut  off,  would 
give  me  back  my  natural  form.  The  fairy  who  watches  over 
your  destiny  told  me  this,  and  it  was  she  who  guided  you  to 
the  cabinet  in  the  turret,  where  she  had  placed  my  hand. 
It  is  she  also  who  permits  me  to  show  my  gratitude  to  you 
by  granting  whatever  favor  you  may  ask  of  me.  Tell  me, 
princess,  what  is  it  that  you  wish  for  most?  Shall  I  make 
you  as  beautiful  as  you  deserve  to  be  ? " 

"  Ah,  if  you  only  would ! "  cried  the  princess,  and  at  the 
same  moment  she  heard  a  crick-cracking  in  all  her  bones. 
She  grew  tall  and  straight  and  pretty,  with  eyes  like  shining 
stars,  and  a  skin  as  white  as  milk. 

"  Oh,  wonderful !  can  this  really  be  my  poor  little  self  ? " 
she  exclaimed,  looking  down  in  amazement  at  her  tiny  worn' 
out  crutch  as  it  lay  upon  the  floor. 

"  Indeed,  princess,"  replied  Florimond,  "  it  is  yourself, 
but  you  must  have  a  new  name,  since  the  old  one  does  not 
suit  you  now.  Be  called  Princess  Sunbeam,  for  you  are 
bright  and  charming  enough  to  deserve  the  name." 

And  so  saying  he  disappeared,  and  the  princess,  without 


252  THE  KED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

knowing  how  she  got  there,  found  herself  walking  under 
shady  trees  by  a  clear  river.  Of  course,  the  first  thing  she 
did  was  to  look  at  her  own  reflection  in  the  water,  and  she 
was  extremely  surprised  to  find  that  she  was  exactly  like  th< 
shepherdess  she  had  so  much  admired,  and  wore  the  same 
white  dress  and  flowery  wreath  that  she  had  seen  in  the 
painted  windows.  To  complete  the  resemblance,  her  flock 
of  sheep  appeared,  grazing  round  her,  and  she  found  a  gay 
crook  adorned  with  flowers  upon  the  bank  of  the  river. 
Quite  tired  out  by  so  many  new  and  wonderful  experiences, 
the  princess  sat  down  to  rest  at  the  foot  of  a  tree,  and  there 
she  fell  fast  asleep.  Now  it  happened  that  it  was  in  this 
very  country  that  Prince  Peerless  had  been  set  down,  and 
while  the  Princess  Sunbeam  was  still  sleeping  peacefully, 
he  came  strolling  along  in  search  of  a  shady  pasture  for 
his  sheep. 

The  moment  he  caught  sight  of  the  princess  he  recognized 
her  as  the  charming  shepherdess  whose  picture  he  had  so 
often  seen  in  the  tower,  and  as  she  was  far  prettier  than  he 
had  remembered  her,  he  was  delighted  that  chance  led  him 
that  way. 

He  was  still  watching  her  admiringly  wThen  the  princess 
opened  her  eyes,  and  as  she  also  recognized  him  they  were 
soon  great  friends.  The  princess  asked  Prince  Peerless,  as 
he  knew  the  country  better  than  she  did,  to  tell  her  of  some 
peasant  who  would  give  her  a  lodging,  and  he  said  he  knew 
of  an  old  woman  whose  cottage  would  be  the  very  place  for 
her,  it  was  so  nice  and  so  pretty.  So  they  went  there  to- 
gether, and  the  princess  was  charmed  with  the  old  woman 
and  everything  belonging  to  her.  Supper  was  soon  spread 
for  her  under  a  shady  tree,  and  she  invited  the  prince  to 
share  the  cream  and  brown  bread  which  the  old  woman  pro- 
vided. This  he  was  delighted  to  do,  and  having  first  fetched 
from  his  own  garden  all  the  strawberries,  cherries,  nuts,  and 
flowers  he  could  find,  they  sat  down  together  and  were  very 
merry.  After  this  they  met  every  day  as  they  guarded  their 
flocks,  and  were  so  happy  that  Prince  Peerless  begged  the 
princess  to  marry  him,  so  that  they  might  never  be  parted 
again.  Now  though  the  Princess  Sunbeam  appeared  to  be 
only  a  poor  shepherdess  she  never  forgot  that  she  was  a  real 
princess,  and  she  was  not  at  all  sure  that  she  ought  to  marry 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  233 

a  humble  shepherd,  though  she  knew  she  would  like  to  do  so 
very  much. 

So  she  resolved  to  consult  an  enchanter  of  whom  she  had 
heard  a  great  deal  since  she  had  been  a  shepherdess,  and 
without  saying  a  word  to  anybody  she  set  out  to  find  the 
castle  in  which  he  lived  with  his  sister,  who  was  a  powerful 
fairy.  The  way  was  long,  and  lay  through  a  thick  wood, 
where  the  princess  heard  strange  voices  calling  to  her  from 
every  side,  but  she  was  in  such  a  hurry  that  she  stopped  for 
nothing,  and  at  last  she  came  to  the  court-yard  of  the  en- 
chanter's  castle. 

The  grass  and  briers  were  growing  as  high  as  if  it  were  a 
hundred  years  since  anyone  had  set  foot  there,  but  the 
princess  got  through  at  last,  though  she  gave  herself  a  good 
many  scratches  by  the  way,  and  then  she  went  into  a  dark, 
gloomy  hall,  where  there  was  but  one  tiny  hole  in  the  wall 
through  which  the  daylight  could  enter.  The  hangings  were 
all  of  bats'  wings,  and  from  the  ceiling  hung  twelve  cats, 
who  filled  the  hall  with  their  ear-piercing  yells.  Upon  the 
long  table  twelve  mice  were  fastened  by  the  tail,  and  just 
in  front  of  each  one's  nose,  but  quite  beyond  its  reach,  lay 
a  tempting  morsel  of  fat  bacon.  So  the  cats  could  always 
see  the  mice,  but  could  not  touch  them,  and  the  hungry  mice 
were  tormented  by  the  sight  and  smell  of  the  delicious  mor- 
sels which  they  could  never  seize. 

The  princess  was  looking  at  the  poor  creatures  in  dis- 
may, when  the  enchanter  suddenly  entered,  wearing  a  long 
black  robe  and  with  a  crocodile  upon  his  head.  In  his  hand 
he  carried  a  whip  made  of  twenty  long  snakes,  all  alive  and 
writhing,  and  the  princess  was  so  terrified  at  the  sight  that 
she  heartily  wished  she  had  never  come.  Without  saying 
a  word  she  ran  to  the  door,  but  it  was  covered  with  a  thick 
spider's  web,  and  when  she  broke  it  she  found  another,  and 
another,  and  another.  In  fact  there  was  no  end  to  them; 
the  princess'  arms  ached  with  tearing  them  down,  and  yet 
she  was  no  nearer  to  getting  out,  and  the  wicked  enchanter 
behind  her  laughed  maliciously.    At  last  he  said : 

"You  might  spend  the  rest  of  your  life  over  that  with- 
out doing  any  good,  but  as  you  are  young,  and  quite  the 
prettiest  creature  I  have  seen  for  a  long  time,  I  will  marry 
you  if  you  like,  and  I  will  give  you  those  cats  and  mice 


234 


THE   RED   FAIRY   BOOK. 


that  you  see  there  for  your  own.  They  are  princes  and  prin- 
cesses who  have  happened  to  offend  me.  They  used  to  love 
one  another  as  much  as  they  now  hate  one  another.  Aha! 
It's  a  pretty  little  revenge  to  keep  them  like  that." 

"  Oh !  If  you  would  only  change  me  into  a  mouse  too," 
cried  the  princess. 

"  Oh !  so  you  won't  marry  me  ? "  said  he.  "  Little  sim- 
pleton, you  should  have  everything  heart  can  desire." 

"No,  indeed;   nothing  should  make  me  marry  you;   in 


fact,  I  don't   think  I   shall   ever  love   anyone,"   cried   the 
princess. 

"In  that  case,"  said  the  enchanter,  touching  her,  "you 
had  better  become  a  particular  kind  of  creature  that  is 
neither  fish  nor  fowl;  you  shall  be  light  and  airy,  and  as 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  235 

green  as  the  grass  you  live  in.  Off  with  you,  Madam  Grass- 
hopper." And  the  princess,  rejoiced  to  find  herself  free  once 
more,  skipped  out  into  the  garden,  the  prettiest  little  green 
grasshopper  in  the  world.  But  as  soon  as  she  was  safely  out 
she  began  to  be  rather  sorry  for  herself. 

"  Ah !  Florimond,"  she  sighed,  "  is  this  the  end  of  your 
gift?  Certainly  beauty  is  short-lived,  and  this  funny  little 
face  and  a  green  crape  dress  are  a  comical  end  to  it.  I  had 
better  have  married  my  amiable  shepherd.  It  must  be  for 
my  pride  that  I  am  condemned  to  be  a  grasshopper,  and 
sing  day  and  night  in  the  grass  by  this  brook,  when  I  feel 
far  more  inclined  to  cry." 

In  the  meantime  Prince  Peerless  had  discovered  the  prin- 
cess' absence,  and  was  lamenting  over  it  by  the  river's 
brim,  when  he  suddenly  became  aware  of  the  presence  of  a 
little  old  woman.  She  was  quaintly  dressed  in  a  ruff  and 
farthingale,  and  a  velvet  hood  covered  her  snow-white  hair. 

"  You  seem  sorrowful,  my  son,"  she  said.  "  What  is  the 
matter?" 

"  Alas !  mother,"  answered  the  prince,  "  I  have  lost  my 
sweet  shepherdess,  but  I  am  determined  to  find  her  again, 
though  I  should  have  to  traverse  the  whole  world  in  search  of 
her." 

"  Go  that  way,  my  son,"  said  the  old  woman,  pointing 
toward  the  path  that  led  to  the  castle.  "  I  have  an  idea 
that  you  will  soon  overtake  her." 

The  prince  thanked  her  heartily  and  set  out.  As  he  met 
with  no  hindrance,  he  soon  reached  the  enchanted  wood 
which  surrounded  the  castle,  and  there  he  thought  he  saw 
the  Princess  Sunbeam  gliding  before  him  among  the  trees. 
Prince  Peerless  hastened  after  her  at  the  top  of  his  speed* 
but  could  not  get  any  nearer;  then  he  called  to  her: 

"  Sunbeam,   my  darling — only  wait  for  me   a  moment." 

But  the  phantom  did  but  fly  the  faster,  and  the  prince 
spent  the  whole  day  in  this  vain  pursuit.  When  night  came 
he  saw  the  castle  before  him  all  lighted  up,  and  as  he  imag- 
ined that  the  princess  must  be  in  it,  he  made  haste  to  get 
there  too.  He  entered  without  difficulty,  and  in  the  hall 
the  terrible  old  fairy  met  him.  She  was  so  thin  that  the  light 
shone  through  her,  and  her  eyes  glowed  like  lamps;  her  skin 
was  like  a  shark's,  her  arms  were  thin  as  laths,  and  her  fingers 


236 


THE    RED   FAIRY   BOOK. 


like  spindles.  Nevertheless  she  wore  rouge  and  patches,  u 
mantle  of  silver  brocade  and  a  crown  of  diamonds,  and  her 
dress  was  covered  with  jewels  and  green  and  pink  ribbons. 

"  At  last  you  have  come  to  see  me,  prince,"  said  she. 
"  Don't  waste  another  thought  upon  that  little  shepherdess, 
who  is  unworthy  of  your  notice.  I  am  the  queen  of  the 
comets,  and  can  bring  you  to  great  honor  if  you  will  marry 
me." 

"  Marry  you,  madam !  "  cried  the  prince  in  horror.  "  No, 
I  will  never  consent  to  that." 

Thereupon  the  fairy,  in  a  rage,  gave  two  strokes  of  her 


wand  and  filled  the  gallery  with  horrid  goblins,  against  whom 
the  prince  had  to  fight  for  his  life.  Though  he  had  only 
his  dagger,  he  defended  himself  so  well  that  he  escaped  v^'tii- 
*>'it  any  harm,  and  presently  the  old  fairy  stopped  tLe  ivay 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  287 

and  asked  the  prince  if  he  was  still  of  the  same  mind.  When 
he  answered  firmly  that  he  was,  she  called  up  the  appearance 
of  the  Princess  Sunbeam  to  the  other  end  of  the  gallery,  and 
said: 

"You  see  your  beloved  there?  Take  care  what  you  are 
about,  for  if  you  again  refuse  to  marry  me  she  shall  be  torn 
in  pieces  by  two  tigers." 

The  prince  was  distracted,  for  he  fancied  he  heard  his  dear 
shepherdess  weeping  and  begging  him  to  save  her.  In  de- 
spair he  cried: 

"  Oh,  Fairy  Douceline,  have  you  abandoned  me  after  so 
many  promises  of  friendship  ?    Help,  help  us  now ! " 

Immediately  a  soft  voice  said  in  his  ear: 

"  Be  firm,  happen  what  may,  and  seek  the  golden  branch." 

Thus  encouraged,  the  prince  persevered  in  his  refusal,  and 
at  length  the  old  fairy  in  her  fury  cried : 

"  Get  out  of  my  sight,  obstinate  prince.  Become  a 
cricket ! " 

And  instantly  the  handsome  Prince  Peerless  became  a  poor 
little  black  cricket,  whose  only  idea  would  have  been  to 
find  a  cozy  cranny  behind  some  blazing  hearth,  if  he  had 
not  luckily  remembered  Fairy  Douceline's  injunction  to 
seek  the  golden  branch. 

So  he  hastened  to  depart  from  the  fatal  castle,  and  sought 
shelter  in  a  hollow  tree,  where  he  found  a  forlorn-looking 
little  grasshopper  crouching  in  a  corner,  too  miserable  to 
sing. 

Without  in  the  least  expecting  an  answer,  the  prince 
asked  it: 

"  And  where  may  you  be  going,  Gammer  Grasshopper  ?  " 

"  Where  are  you  going  yourself,  Gaffer  Cricket  ? "  replied 
the  grasshopper. 

"What!  can  you  speak?"  said  he. 

"Why  should  I  not  speak  as  well  as  you?  Isn't  a  grass- 
hopper as  good  as  a  cricket  ? "  said  she. 

"  I  can  talk  because  I  was  a  prince,"  said  the  cricket. 

"  And  for  that  very  same  reason  I  ought  to  be  able  to  talk 
more  than  you,  for  I  was  a  princess,"  replied  the  grasshopper. 

"  Then  you  have  met  with  the  same  fate  as  I  have,"  said 
ha  "  But  where  are  you  going  now  ?  Cannot  we  journey  to- 
gether?" 


238  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

"  I  seemed  to  hear  a  voice  in  the  air  which  said :  '  Be 
firm,  happen  what  may,  and  seek  the  golden  branch,' "  an- 
swered the  grasshopper,  "  and  I  thought  the  command  must 
be  for  me,  so  I  started  at  once,  though  I  don't  know  the  way." 

At  this  moment  their  conversation  was  interrupted  by  two 
mice,  who,  breathless  from  running,  flung  themselves  head- 
long through  the  hole  into  the  tree,  nearly  crushing  the 
grasshopper  and  the  cricket,  though  they  got  out  of  the  way 
as  fast  as  they  could  and  stood  up  in  a  dark  corner. 

"  Ah,  madam,"  said  the  fatter  of  the  two,  "  I  have  such  a 
pain  in  my  side  from  running  so  fast.  How  does  your  high: 
ness  find  yourself  ?  " 

"I  have  pulled  my  tail  off,"  replied  the  younger  mouse, 
"but  as  I  should  be  on  the  sorcerer's  table  unless  I  had, 
I  do  not  regret  it.  Are  we  pursued,  think  you  ?  How  lucky 
we  were  to  escape !  " 

"  I  only  trust  that  we  may  escape  cats  and  traps,  and  reach 
the  golden  branch  soon,"  said  the  fat  mouse. 

"  You  know  the  way  then  ?  "  said  the  other. 

"  Oh,  dear,  yes !  as  well  as  the  way  to  my  own  house, 
madam.  This  golden  branch  is  indeed  a  marvel;  a  single 
leaf  from  it  makes  one  rich  forever.  It  breaks  enchantments, 
and  makes  all  who  approach  it  young  and  beautiful.  We 
must  set  out  for  it  at  the  break  of  day." 

"May  we  have  the  honor  of  traveling  with  you — this  re- 
spectable cricket  and  myself  ? "  said  the  grasshopper,  step- 
ping forward.  "  We  also  are  on  a  pilgrimage  to  the  golden 
branch." 

The  mice  courteously  assented,  and  after  many  polite 
speeches  the  whole  party  fell  asleep.  With  the  earliest  dawn 
they  were  on  their  way,  and  though  the  mice  were  in  con- 
stant fear  of  being  overtaken  or  trapped,  they  reached  the 
golden  branch  in  safety. 

It  grew  in  the  midst  of  a  wonderful  garden,  all  the  paths 
of  which  were  strewn  with  pearls  as  big  as  peas.  The  roses 
were  crimson  diamonds,  with  emerald  leaves.  The  pome- 
granates were  garnets,  the  marigolds  topazes,  the  daffodils 
yellow  diamonds,  the  violets  sapphires,  the  cornflowers  tur- 
quoises, the  tulips  amethysts,  opals,  and  diamonds,  so  that 
the  garden  borders  blazed  like  the  sun.  The  golden  branch 
itself  had  become  as  tall  as  a  forest  tree,  and  sparkled    witk 


THE  BED  FAIRY  BOOK.  239 

ruby  cherries  to  its  topmost  twig.  ~No  "sooner  had  the  grass- 
hopper and  the  cricket  touched  it  than  they  were  restored  to 
their  natural  forms,  and  their  surprise  and  joy  were  great 
when  they  recognized  each  other.  At  this  moment  Flori- 
mond  and  Fairy  Douceline  appeared  in  great  splendor,  and 
the  fairy,  as  she  descended  from  her  chariot,  said  with  a 
srcu.e  :- 

"So  you  two  have  found  one  another  again,  I  see,  but 
I  have  still  a  surprise  left  for  you.  Don't  hesitate,  prin- 
cess, to  tell  your  devoted  shepherd  how  dearly  you  love  him, 
as  lie  is  the  very  prince  your  father  sent  you  to  marry.  So 
come  here  both  of  you  and  let  me  crown  you,  and  we  will 
have  the  wedding  at  once." 

The  prince  and  princess  thanked  her  with  all  their  hearts, 
and  declared  that  to  her  they  owed  all  their  happiness, 
and  then  the  two  princesses  who  had  so  lately  been 
mice  came  and  begged  that  the  fairy  would  use  her  power 
to  release  their  unhappy  friends  who  were  still  under  the  en- 
chanter's spell. 

"  Really,"  said  Fairy  Douceline,  "  on  this  happy  occasion  I 
cannot  find  it  in  my  heart  to  refuse  you  anything."  And  she 
gave  three  strokes  of  her  wand  upon  the  golden  branch,  and 
immediately  all  the  prisoners  in  the  enchanter's  castle  found 
themselves  free,  and  came  with  all  speed  to  the  wonderful 
garden,  where  one  touch  of  the  golden  branch  restored  each 
one  to  his  natural  form,  and  they  greeted  one  another  with 
many  rejoicings.  To  complete  her  generous  work  the  fairy 
presented  them  with  the  wonderful  cabinet  and  all  the  treas- 
ures it  contained,  which  were  worth  at  least  ten  kingdoms. 
But  to  Prince  Peerless  and  the  Princess  Sunbeam  she  gave 
the  palace  and  garden  of  the  golden  branch,  where,  im- 
mensely rich  and  greatly  beloved  by  all  their  subjects,  they 
liver  happily  ever  after. 


THE  THREE  DWARFS .* 

There  was  once  upon  a  time  a  man  who  lost  his  wife,  and 
a  woman  who  lost  her  husband ;  and  the  man  had  a  daughter 
and  so  had  the  woman.    The  two  girls  were  great  friends  and 
*  Grimm. 


240 


THE   RED    FAIRY   BOOK. 


used  often  to  play  together.  One  day  the  woman  turned  to 
the  man's  daughter  and  said: 

"Go  and  tell  your  father  that  I  will  marry  him,  and  then 
you  shall  wash  in  milk  and  drink  wine,  but  my  own  daughter 
shall  wash  in  water  and  drink  it  too." 

The  girl  went  straight  home  and  told  her  father  what  the 
woman  had  said. 

"  What  am  I  to  do  ? "  he  answered.  "  Marriage  is  either 
a  success  or  it  is  a  failure." 

At  last,  being  of  an  undecided  character  and  not  being 


able  to  make  up  his  mind,  he  took  off  his  boot,  and  hand' 
ing  it  to  his  daughter,  said: 

"  Take  thit  boot  which  has  a  hole  in  the  sole,  and  hang  it 
up  on  a  nail  in  the  hay-loft,  and  p  >ur  water  into  it.    If  it 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  241 

holds  water  I  will  marry  again,  but  if  it  doesn't  I  won't." 
The  girl  did  as  she  was  bid,  but  the  water  drew  the  hole 
together  and  the  boot  filled  up  to  the  very  top.  So  she  went 
and  told  her  father  the  result.  He  got  up  and  went  to  see 
for  himself,  and  when  he  saw  that  it  was  true  and  no  mistake, 
he  accepted  his  fate,  proposed  to  the  widow,  and  they  were 
married  at  once. 

On  the  morning  after  the  wedding,  when  the  two  girls 
awoke,  milk  was  standing  for  the  man's  daughter  to  wash 
in  and  wine  for  her  to  drink;  but  for  the  woman's  daughter, 
only  water  to  wash  in  and  only  water  to  drink.  On  the 
second  morning,  water  to  wash  in  and  water  to  drink  was 
standing  for  the  man's  daughter  as  well.  And  on  the  third 
morning,  water  to  wash  in  and  water  to  drink  was  standing 
for  the  man's  daughter,  and  milk  to  wash  in  and  wine  to 
drink  for  the  woman's  daughter;  and  so  it  continued  ever 
after.  The  woman  hated  her  stepdaughter  from  the  bottom 
of  her  heart,  and  did  all  she  could  to  make  her  life  miserable. 
She  was  as  jealous  as  she  could  possibly  be,  because  the  girl 
was  so  beautiful  and  charming,  while  her  own  daughter  was 
both  ugly  and  repulsive. 

One  winter's  day  when  there  was  a  hard  frost,  and 
mountain  and  valley  were  covered  with  snow,  the  woman 
made  a  dress  of  paper,  and  calling  the  girl  to  her  said: 

"  There,  put  on  this  dress  and  go  out  into  the  wood  and 
fetch  me  a  basket  of  strawberries ! " 

"  Now  Heaven  help  us,"  replied  her  stepdaughter ;  "  straw- 
berries don't  grow  in  winter;  the  earth  is  all  frozen  and  the 
snow  has  covered  up  everything;  and  why  send  me  in  a 
paper  dress?  It  is  so  cold  outside  that  one's  very  breath 
freezes;  the  wind  will  whistle  through  my  dress,  and  the 
brambles  tear  it  from  my  body." 

"  How  dare  you  contradict  me ! "  said  her  stepmother ; 
"be  off  with  you  at  once,  and  don't  show  your  face  again 
till  you  have  filled  the  basket  with  strawberries." 

Then  she  gave  her  a  hard  crust  of  bread,  saying : 

*  That  will  be  enough  for  you  to-day,"  and  she  thought 
to  herself :  "  The  girl  will  certainly  perish  of  hunger  and 
cold  outside,  and  I  shan't  be  bothered  with  her  any  more." 

The  girl  was  so  obedient  that  she  put  on  the  paper  dress 
and  set  out  with  her  little  basket.    There  was  nothing  but 


242 


THE   RED    FAIRY   BOOK. 


snow  far  and  near,  and  not  a  green  blade  of  grass  to  be  seen 
anywhere.  When  she  came  to  the  wood  she  saw  a  little 
house,  and  out  of  it  peeped  three  little  dwarfs.  She  wished 
them  good-day,  and  knocked  modestly  at  the  door.  They 
called  out  to  her  to  enter,  so  she  stepped  in  and  sat  down  on 
a  seat  by  the  fire,  wishing  to  warm  herself  and  eat  some 


breakfast.  The  dwarfs  said  at  once :  "  Give  us  some  of  your 
food!" 

"Gladly,"  she  said,  and  breaking  her  crust  in  two,  she 
gave  them  the  half. 

Then  they  asked  her  what  she  was  doing  in  the  depths 
of  winter  in  her  thin  dress. 

"  Oh,"  she  answered,  "  I  have  been  sent  to  get  a  basketful 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  243 

t>f  strawberries;  and  I  daren't  show  my  face  again  at  home 
till  I  bring  them  with  me." 

When  she  had  finished  her  bread  they  gave  her  a  broom 
and  told  her  to  sweep  away  the  snow  from  the  back  door. 
As  soon  as  she  left  the  room  the  three  little  men  consulted 
what  they  should  give  her  as  a  reward  far  being  so  sweet 
and  good,  and  for  sharing  her  last  crust  with  them. 

The  first  said :     "  Every  day  she  shall  grow  prettier." 

The  second :  "  Every  time  she  opens  her  mouth  a  piece 
of  gold  shall  fall  out." 

And  the  third :     "  A  king  shall  come  and  marry  her." 

The  girl  in  the  meantime  was  doing  as  the  dwarfs  had 
bidden  her,  and  was  sweeping  the  snow  away  from  the 
back  door,  and  what  do  you  think  she  found  there?  He^pa 
of  fine  ripe  strawberries  that  showed  out  dark  red  against 
the  white  snow.  She  joyfully  picked  enough  to  fill  her 
basket,  thanked  the  little  men  for  their  kindness,  shook 
hands  with  them,  and  ran  home  to  bring  her  stepmother 
what  she  had  asked  for.  When  she  walked  in  and  said 
"  Good-evening,"  a  piece  of  gold  fell  out  of  her  mouth. 
Then  she  told  what  had  happened  to  her  in  the  wood,  and 
at  every  word  pieces  of  gold  dropped  from  her  mouth,  so 
that  the  room  was  soon  covered  with  them. 

"  She's  surely  more  money  than  wit  to  throw  gold  about 
like  that,"  said  her  stepsister,  but  in  her  secret  heart  she 
was  very  jealous,  and  determined  that  she  too  would  go 
to  the  wood  and  look  for  strawberries.  But  her  mother  re- 
fused to  let  her  go,  saying : 

"  My  dear  child,  it  is  far  too  cold ;  you  might  freeze  to 
death." 

The  girl,  however,  left  her  no  peace,  so  she  was  forced  at 
last  to  give  in,  but  she  insisted  on  her  putting  on  a  beautiful 
fur  cloak,  and  she  gave  her  tyread-and-butter  and  cakes  tc 
eat  on  the  way.  \ 

The  girl  went  straight  to  the  little  house  in  the  wood, 
and  as  before  the  three  little  men  were  looking  out  of  the 
window.  She  took  no  notice  of  them,  and  without  as 
much  as  "  By  your  leave,"  or  "  With  your  leave,"  she 
flounced  into  the  room,  sat  herself  down  at  the  fir«,  and 
began  to  eat  her  bread-and-butter  and  cakes. 

"  Give  us  some,"  cried  the  dwarfs. 


244  THE  EED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

But  she  answered :  "  No,  I  won't,  it's  hardly  enough  for 
myself;  so  catch  me  giving  you  any." 

When  she  had  finished  eating  they  said: 

"  There's  a  broom  for  you,  go  and  clear  up  our  back  door." 

"I'll  see  myself  further,"  she  answered  rudely.  "Do  it 
yourselves ;  I'm  not  your  servant." 

When  she  saw  that  they  did  not  mean  to  give  her  any- 
thing, she  left  the  house  in  no  amiable  frame  of  mind. 
Then  the  three  little  men  consulted  what  they  should  do 
to  her,  because  she  was  so  bad  and  had  such  an  evil,  covetous 
heart  that  she  grudged  everybody  their  good  fortune. 

The  first  said :    "  She  shall  grow  uglier  every  day." 

The  second:  "Every  time  she  speaks  a  toad  shall  jump 
out  of  her  mouth." 

And  the  third :     "  She  shall  die  a  most  miserable  death." 

The  girl  searched  for  strawberries,  but  she  found  none, 
and  returned  home  in  a  very  bad  temper.  When  she  opened 
her  mouth  to  tell  her  mother  what  had  befallen  her  in  the 
wood,  a  toad  jumped  out,  so  that  everyone  was  quite  dis- 
gusted with  her. 

Then  the  stepmother  was  more  furious  than  ever,  and 
did  nothing  but  plot  mischief  against  the  man's  daughter, 
who  was  daily  growing  more  and  more  beautiful.  At  last, 
one  day  the  wicked  woman  took  a  large  pot,  put  it  on  the 
fire,  and  boiled  some  yarn  in  it.  When  it  was  well  scalded 
she  hung  it  round  the  poor  girl's  shoulder,  and  giving  her 
an  ax,  she  bade  her  break  a  hole  in  the  frozen  river,  and 
rinse  the  yarn  in  it.  Her  stepdaughter  obeyed  as  usual, 
and  went  and  broke  a  hole  in  the  ice.  When  she  was  in  the 
act  of  wringing  out  the  yarn  a  magnificent  carriage  passed, 
and  the  king  sat  inside.  The  carriage  stood  still,  and  the 
king  asked  her: 

"  My  child,  who  are  you,  and  what  in  the  wide  world  are 
you  doing  here  ?  " 

"  I  am  only  a  poor  girl,"  she  answered,  "  and  am  rinsing 
out  my  yarn  in  the  river."  Then  the  king  wae  sorry  for  her, 
and  when  he  saw  how  beautiful  she  was  he  said : 

"  Will  you  come  away  with  me  ?  " 

"Most  gladly,"  she  replied,  for  she  knew  how  willingly 
she  would  leave  her  stepmother  and  sister,  and  how  glad 
they  would  be  to  be  rid  of  her. 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  245 

So  she  stepped  into  the  carriage  and  drove  away  with 
the  king,  and  when  they  reached  his  palace  the  wedding  was 
celebrated  with  much  splendor.  So  all  turned  out  just  as 
the  three  little  dwarfs  had  said.  After  a  year  the  queen 
gave  birth  to  a  little  son.  When  her  stepmother  heard  of 
her  good  fortune  she  came  to  the  palace  with  her  daughter 
by  way  of  paying  a  call,  and  took  up  her  abode  there.  Now 
one  day,  when  the  king  was  out  and  nobody  else  near,  the  bad 
woman  took  the  queen  by  her  head,  and  the  daughter  took 
her  by  her  heels,  and  they  dragged  her  from  her  bed,  and 
flung  her  out  of  the  window  into  the  stream  which  flowed 
beneath  it.     Then  the  stepmother  laid  her  ugly  daughter 


in  the  queen's  place,  and  covered  her  up  with  the  clothes, 
so  that  nothing  of  her  was  seen.  When  the  king  came  home 
and  wished  to  speak  to  his  wife  the  woman  called  out : 

"  Quietly,  quietly !  this  will  never  do ;  your  wife  is  very 
ill,  you  must  let  her  rest  all  to-day."  The  king  suspected 
no  evil,  and  didn't  come  again  until  next  morning.  When 
he  spoke  to  his  wife  and  she  answered  him,  instead  of  the 
usual  piece  of  gold  a  toad  jumped  out  of  her  mouth.  Then 
he  asked  what  it  meant,  and  the  old  woman  told  him  it  was 
nothing  but  weakness,  and  that  she  would  soon  be  all  rigkt 
again. 


246  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

But  that  same  evening  the  scullion  noticed  a  duck  swim- 
ming up  the  gutter,  saying  as  it  passed: 

"  What  does  the  King,  I  pray  you  tell, 
Is  he  awake  or  sleeps  he  well?  " 

and  receiving  no  reply  it  continued : 

"  And  all  my  guests,  are  they  asleep? 

and  the  scullion  answered: 

"  Yes,  one  and  all  they  slumber  deep." 

Then  the  duck  went  on: 

"  And  what  about  my  baby  dear?  " 

and  he  answered : 

"  Oh,  it  sleeps  soundly,  never  fear." 

Then  the  duck  assumed  the  queen's  shape,  went  up  to 
the  child's  room,  tucked  him  up  comfortably  in  his  cradle, 
and  then  swam  back  down  the  gutter  again,  in  the  like- 
ness of  a  duck.  This  was  repeated  for  two  nights,  and  on 
the  third  the  duck  said  to  the  scullion: 

"  Go  and  tell  the  king  to  swing  his  sword  three  times 
over  me  on  the  threshold." 

The  scullion  did  as  the  creature  bade  him,  and  the  king 
came  with  his  sword  and  swung  it  three  times  over  the 
bird,  and  lo  and  behold!  his  wife  stood  before  him  once 
more,  alive,  and  as  blooming  as  ever. 

The  king  rejoiced  greatly,  but  he  kept  the  queen  in  hiding 
till  the  Sunday  on  which  the  child  was  to  be  christened. 
After  the  christening  he  said : 

"What  punishment  does  that  person  deserve  who  drags 
another  out  of  bed,  and  throws  him  or  her,  as  the  case  may 
be,  into  the  water  ? " 

Then  the  wicked  stepmother  answered: 

"No  better  fate  than  to  be  put  in  a  barrel  lined  with 
sharp  nails,  and  to  be  rolled  in  it  down  the  hill  into  the 
water." 

"You  have  pronounced  your  own  doom,"  said  the  king; 
and  he  ordered  a  barrel  to  be  made  lined  with  sharp  nails, 
and  in  it  he  put  the  bad  old  woman  and  her  daughter.  Then 
it  was  fastened  down  securely,  and  the  barrel  was  rolled 
down  the  hill  till  it  fell  into  the  river. 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  247 


DAPPLEGKIM* 

There  was  once  upon  a  time  a  couple  of  rich  folks  who 
had  twelve  sons,  and  when  the  youngest  was  grown  up  he 
would  not  stay  at  home  any  longer,  but  he  would  go  out  into 
the  world  and  seek  his  fortune.  His  father  and  mother 
said  that  they  thought  he  was  very  well  off  at  home,  and 
that  he  was  welcome  to  stay  with  them;  but  he  could  not 
rest,  and  said  that  he  must  and  would  go,  so  at  last  they 
had  to  give  him  leave.  When  he  had  walked  a  long  way, 
he  came  to  a  king's  palace.  There  he  asked  for  a  place 
and  got  it. 

Now  the  daughter  of  the  king  of  that  country  had  been 
carried  off  into  the  mountains  by  a  troll,  and  the  king  had 
no  other  children,  and  for  this  cause  both  he  and  all  his 
people  were  full  of  sorrow  and  affliction,  and  the  king  had 
promised  the  princess  and  half  his  kingdom  to  anyone 
who  would  set  her  free;  but  there  was  no  one  who  could 
do  it,  though  a  great  number  had  tried.  So  when  the  youth 
had  been  there  for  the  space  of  a  year  or  so,  he  wanted  to 
go  home  again  to  pay  his  parents  a  visit;  but  when  he  got 
there  his  father  and  mother  were  dead,  and  his  brothers  had 
divided  everything  that  their  parents  possessed  between 
themselves,  so  that  there  was  nothing  at  all  left  for  him. 

"  Shall  I,  then,  receive  nothing  at  all  of  my  inheritance  ? " 
asked  the  youth. 

"  Who  could  know  that  you  were  still  alive — you  who 
have  been  a  wanderer  so  long  ? "  answered  the  brothers. 
"  However,  there  are  twelve  mares  upon  the  hills  which  we 
have  not  yet  divided  among  us,  and  if  you  would  like  to 
have  them  for  your  share,  you  may  take  them." 

So  the  youth,  well  pleased  with  this,  thanked  them,  and 
at  once  set  off  to  the  hill  where  the  twelve  mares  were  at 
pasture.  When  he  got  up  there  and  found  them,  each  mare 
had  her  foal,  and  by  the  side  of  one  of  them  was  a  big 
dapple-gray  foal  as  well,  which  was  so  sleek  that  it  shone 
again. 

"Well,  my  little  foal,  you  are  a  fine  fellow!"  said  th« 
jouth. 

*  From  J.  Moe. 


248 


THE    RED    FAIRY    BOOK. 


"  Yes,  but  if  you  will  kill  all  the  other  little  foals  so  that 
T  can  suck  all  the  mares  for  a  year,  you  shall  see  how  big 
and  handsome  I  shall  be  then !  "  said  the  foal. 

So  the  youth  did  this — he  killed  all  the  twelve  foals,  and 
then  went  back  again. 

Next  year,  when  he  came  home  again  to  look  after  his 
mares  and  the  foal,  it  was  as  fat  as  it  could  be,  and  its 
coat  shone  with  brightness,  and  it  was  so  big  that  the  lad 
had  tne  greatest  difficulty  in  getting  on  its  back,  and  each 
of  the  mares  had  another  foal. 

"Well,  it's  very  evident  that  I  have  lost  nothing  by  let- 
ting you  suck  all  my  mares,"  said  the  lad  to  the  yearling; 


tl  but  now  you  are  quite  big  enough,  and  must  come  away 
with  me." 

"No,"  said  the  colt,  "I  must  stay  here  another  year; 
kill  the  twelve  little  foals,  and  then  I  can  suck  all  the  mares 
this  year  also,  and  you  shall  see  how  big  and  handsome 
I  shall  be  by  summer." 

So  the  youth  did  it  again,  and  when  he  went  up  on  the 
hill  next  year  to  look  after  his  colt  and  mares,  each  of  the 
mares  had  her  foal  again;  but  the  dappled  colt  was  so  big 
that  when  the  lad  wanted  to  feel  its  neck  to  see  how  fat  it 
was,  he  could  not  reach  up  to  it,  it  was  so  high,  and  it  was  so- 
bright  that  the  light  glanced  off  its  coat.    "  Big  and  hand- 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  249 

some  you  were  last  year,  my  colt,  but  this  year  you  are  ever 
so  much  handsomer,"  said  the  youth ;  "  in  all  the  king's 
court  no  such  horse  is  to  be  found.  But  now  you  shall  come 
away  with  me." 

"No,"  said  the  dappled  colt  once  more;  "here  I  must 
stay  for  another  year.  Just  kill  the  twelve  little  foals 
again,  so  that  I  can  suck  the  mares  this  year  also,  and  then 
come  and  look  at  me  in  the  summer." 

So  the  youth  did  it — he  killed  all  the  little  foals,  and 
then  went  home  again. 

But  next  year,  when  he  returned  to  look  after  the  dap- 
pled colt  and  the  mares,  he  was  quite  appalled.  He  had 
never  imagined  that  any  horse  could  become  so  big  and  over- 
grown, for  the  dappled  horse  had  to  lie  down  on  all  fours 
before  the  youth  could  get  on  his  back,  and  it  was  very  hard 
to  do  that  even  when  it  was  lying  down,  and  it  was  so  plump 
that  its  coat  shone  and  glistened  just  as  if  it  had  been  a 
looking-glass.  This  time  the  dappled  horse  was  not  unwill- 
ing to  go  away  with  the  youth,  so  he  mounted  it,  and  when  he 
came  riding  home  to  his  brothers  they  all  smote  their  hands 
together  and  crossed  themselves,  for  never  in  their  lives 
had  they  either  seen  or  heard  tell  of  such  a  horse  as  that. 

"  If  you  will  procure  me  the  best  shoes  for  my  horse, 
and  the  most  magnificent  saddle  and  bridle  that  can  be 
found,"  said  the  youth,  "  you  may  have  all  my  twelve  mares 
just  as  they  are  standing  out  on  the  hill,  and  their  twelve 
foals  into  the  bargain."  For  this  year  also  each  mare  had 
her  foal.  The  brothers  were  quite  willing  to  do  this;  so  the 
lad  got  such  shoes  for  his  horse  that  the  sticks  and  stones 
flew  high  up  into  the  air  as  he  rode  away  over  the  hills,  and 
such  a  gold  saddle  and  such  a  gold  bridle  that  they  could  be 
seen  glittering  and  glancing  from  afar. 

"  And  now  we  will  go  to  the  king's  palace,"  said  Dapple- 
grim — that  was  the  horse's  name,  "  but  bear  in  mind  that 
you  must  ask  the  king  for  a  good  stable  and  excellent  fodder 
for  me," 

So  the  lad  promised  not  to  forget  to  do  that.  He  rpde 
to  the  palace,  and  it  will  be  easily  understood  that  with 
such  a  horse  as  he  had  he  was  not  long  on  the  way. 

When  he  arrived  there  the  king  was  standing  out  on  the 
steps,  and  how  he  did  stare  at  the  man  who  came  riding  up ! 


250  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

"  Nay,"  said  he,  "  never  in  my  whole  life  have  I  seen  such 
a  man  and  such  a  horse." 

And  when  the  youth  inquired  if  he  could  have  a  place  in 
the  king's  palace,  the  king  was  so  delighted  that  he  could 
have  danced  on  the  steps  where  he  was  standing,  and  there 
and  then  the  lad  was  told  that  he  should  have  a  place. 

"  Yes ;  but  I  must  have  a  good  stable  and  most  excellent 
fodder  for  my  horse,"  said  he. 

So  they  told  him  that  he  should  have  sweet  hay  and 
oat3,  and  as  much  of  them  as  the  dappled  horse  chose  to 
have,  and  all  the  other  riders  had  to  take  their  horses  out 
of  the  stable  that  Dapplegrim  might  stand  alone  and  really 
have  plenty  of  room. 

But  this  did  not  last  long,  for  the  other  people  in  the 
king's  court  became  envious  of  the  lad,  and  there  was  no 
bad  thing  that  they  would  not  have  done  to  him  if  they 
had  but  dared.  At  last  they  bethought  themselves  of  telling 
the  king  that  the  youth  had  said  that,  if  he  chose,  he  was 
quite  able  to  rescue  the  princess  who  had  been  carried  off 
into  the  mountain  a  long  time  ago  by  the  troll. 

The  king  immediately  summoned  the  lad  into  his  pres- 
ence, and  said  that  he  had  been  informed  that  he  had  said 
that  it  was  in  his  power  to  rescue  the  princess,  so  he  was 
now  to  do  it.  If  he  succeeded  in  this  he  no  doubt  knew 
that  the  king  had  promised  his  daughter  and  half  the  king- 
dom to  anyone  who  set  her  free,  which  promise  should  be 
faithfully  kept,  but  if  he  failed  he  should  be  put  to  death. 
The  youth  denied  that  he  had  said  this,  but  all  to  no  pur- 
pose, for  the  king  was  deaf  to  all  his  words;  so  there  was 
nothing  to  be  done  but  say  that  he  would  make  the  attempt. 

He  went  down  into  the  stable,  and  very  sad  and  full  of 
care  he  was.  Then  Dapplegrim  inquired  why  he  was  so 
troubled,  and  the  youth  told  him,  and  said  that  he  did  not 
know  what  to  do,  "  for  as  to  setting  the  princess  free,  that 
was  downright  impossible." 

"  Oh,  but  it  might  be  done,"  said  Dapplegrim.  "  I  will 
help  you;  but  you  must  first  have  me  well  shod.  You  must 
ask  for  ten  pounds  of  iron  and  twelve  pounds  of  steel  for 
the  shoeing,  and  one  smith  to  hammer  and  one  to  hold." 

So  the  youth  did  this,  and  no  one  said  him  nay.  He  got 
both  the  iron  and  the  steel  and  the  smiths,  and  thus  was 


THE   RED    FAIRY   BOOK. 


251 


DapplegTim  shod  strongly  and  well,  and  when  the  youth 
went  out  of  the  king's  palace  a  cloud  of  dust  rose  up  behind 
him.  But  when  he  came  to  the  mountain  into  which  the 
princess  had  bean  carried,  the  difficulty  was  to  ascend  the 
precipitous  wall  of  rock  by  which  he  was  to  get  on  to  the 
mountain  beyond,  for  the  rock  stood  right  up  on  end,  as 
steep  as  a  house  side  and  as  smooth  as  a  sheet  of  glass. 
The  first  time  the  youth  rode  at  it  he  got  a  little  way  up 
the  precipice,  but  then  both  Dapplegrim's  fore  legs  slipped, 
and  down  came  horse  and  rider  with  a  sound  like  thunder 
among  the  mountains.  The  next  time  that  he  rode  at  it  he 
got  a  little  further  up,  but  then  one  of  Dapplegrim's  fore 
legs  slipped,  and  down  they  went  with  the  sound  of  a  land- 


slip. But  the  third  time  Dapplegrim  said,  "Now  we  must 
show  what  we  can  do,"  and  went  at  it  once  more  till  the 
stones  sprang  up  sky-high,  and  thus  they  got  up.  Then  the 
lad  rode  into  the  mountain  cleft  at  full  gallop  and  caught 
up  the  princess  on  his  saddle-bow,  and  then  out  again 
before  the  troll  even  had  time  to  stand  up,  and  thus  the 
princess  was  set  free. 

When  the  youth  returned  to  the  palace  the  king  was  both 
happy  and  delighted  to  get  his  daughter  back  again,   as 


252  THE   BED   FAIRY   BOOK. 

may  easily  be  believed,  but  somehow  or  other  the  people 
about  the  court  had  so  worked  on  him  that  he  was  angry 
with  the  lad  too.  "  Thou  shalt  have  my  thanks  for  setting 
my  princess  free,"  he  said,  when  the  youth  came  into  the 
palace  with  her,  and  was  then  about  to  go  away. 

"  She  ought  to  be  just  as  much  my  princess  as  she  is 
yours  now,  for  you  are  a  man  of  your  word,"  said  the 
youth. 

"Yes,  yes,"  said  the  king.  "Have  her  thou  shalt,  as  I 
have  said  it;  but  first  of  all  thou  must  make  the  sun  shine 
into  my  palace  here." 

For  there  was  a  large  and  high  hill  outside  the  windows 
which  overshadowed  the  palace  so  much  that  the  sun  could 
not  shine  in. 

"  That  was  no  part  of  our  bargain,"  answered  the  youth. 
"  But  as  nothing  that  I  can  say  will  move  you,  I  suppose  I 
shall  have  to  try  to  do  my  best,  for  the  princess  I  will 
have." 

So  he  went  down  to  Dapplegrim  again  and  told  him  what 
the  king  desired,  and  Dapplegrim  thought  that  it  might 
easily  be  done;  but  first  of  all  he  must  have  new  shoes,  and 
ten  pounds  of  iron  and  twelve  pounds  of  steel  must  go  to 
the  making  of  them,  and  two  smiths  were  also  necessary, 
one  to  hammer  and  one  to  hold,  and  then  it  would  be  very 
easy  to  make  the  sun  shine  into  the  king's  palace. 

The  lad  asked  for  these  things  and  obtained  them  in- 
stantly, for  the  king  thought  that  for  very  shame  he  could 
not  refuse  to  give  them,  and  so  Dapplegrim  got  new  shoes, 
and  they  were  good  ones.  The  youth  seated  himself  on 
him,  and  once  more  they  went  their  way,  and  for  each  hop 
that  Dapplegrim  made,  down  went  the  hill  fifteen  ells  into 
the  earth,  and  so  they  went  on  until  there  was  no  hill  left 
for  the  king  to  see. 

When  the  youth  came  down  again  to  the  king's  palace 
he  asked  the  king  if  the  princess  should  not  at  last  be  his, 
for  now  no  one  could  say  that  the  sun  was  not  shining  into 
the  palace.  But  the  other  people  in  the  palace  had  again 
stirred  up  the  king,  and  he  answered  that  the  youth  should 
have  her,  and  that  he  had  never  intended  that  he  should  not ; 
but  first  of  all  he  must  get  her  quite  as  good  a  horse  to  ride 
to  the  wedding  on  as  that  which  he  had  himself.    The  youth 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  253 

said  that  the  king  had  never  told  him  he  was  to  do 
that,  and  it  seemed  to  him  that  he  had  now  really  earned 
the  princess;  but  the  king  stuck  to  what  he  had  said,  and  if 
the  youth  were  unable  to  do  it  he  was  to  lose  his  life,  the 
king  said.  The  youth  went  down  to  the  stable  again,  and 
very  sad  and  sorrowful  he  was,  as  anyone  may  well  imagine. 
Then  he  told  Dapplegrim  that  the  king  had  now  required 
that  he  should  get  the  princess  as  good  a  bridal  horse  as 
that  which  the  bridegroom  had,  or  he  should  lose  his  life. 
''  But  that  will  be  no  easy  thing  to  do,"  said  he,  "  for  your 
equal  is  not  to  be  found  in  all  the  world." 

"  Oh,  yes,  there  is  one  to  match  me,"  said  Dapplegrim. 
"  But  it  will  not  be  easy  to  get  him,  for  he  is  underground. 
However,  we  will  try.  Now  you  must  go  up  to  the  king  and 
ask  for  new  shoes  for  me,  and  for  them  we  must  again  have 
ten  pounds  of  iron,  twelve  pounds  of  steel,  and  two  smiths, 
one  to  hammer  and  one  to  hold,  but  be  very  particular  to 
see  that  the  hooks  are  very  sharp.  And  you  must  also  ask 
for  twelve  barrels  of  rye,  and  twelve  slaughtered  oxen  must 
we  have  with  us,  and  all  the  twelve  ox-hides  with  twelve  hun- 
dred spikes  set  in  each  of  them;  all  these  things  must  we 
have,  likewise  a  barrel  of  tar  with  twelve  tons  of  tar  in  it." 
The  youth  went  to  the  king  and  asked  for  all  the  things  that 
Dapplegrim  had  named,  and  once  more,  as  the  king  thought 
that  it  would  be  disagreeable  to  refuse  them  to  him,  he  ob- 
tained them  all. 

So  he  mounted  Dapplegrim  and  rode  away  from  the  court, 
and  when  he  had  ridden  for  a  long,  long  time  over  hills  and 
moors,  Dapplegrim  asked :     "  Do  you  hear  anything  ?  " 

"Yes;  there  is  such  a  dreadful  whistling  up  above  in  the 
air  that  I  think  I  am  growing  quite  alarmed,"  said  the 
youth. 

"  That  is  all  the  wild  birds  in  the  forest  flying  about ; 
they  are  sent  to  stop  us,"  said  Dapplegrim.  "  But  just  cut 
a  hole  in  the  corn  sacks,  and  then  they  will  be  so  busy  with 
the  corn  that  they  will  forget  us." 

The  youth  did  it.  He  cut  holes  in  the  corn  sacks  so  that 
barley  and  rye  ran  out  on  every  side,  and  all  the  wild  birds 
that  were  in  the  forest  came  in  such  numbers  that  they  dark- 
ened the  sun.  But  when  they  caught  sight  of  the  corn 
they  could  not  refrain  from  it,  but  flew  down  and  began  to 


254  THE  EED  FAIEY  BOOK. 

scratch  and  pick  at  the  corn  and  rye,  and  at  last  they  began 
to  fight  among  themselves,  and  forgot  all  about  the  youth 
and  Dapplegrim,  and  did  them  no  harm. 

And  now  the  youth  rode  onward  for  a  long,  long  time, 
over  hill  and  dale,  over  rocky  places  and  morasses,  and 
then  Dapplegrim  began  to  listen  again,  and  asked  the  youth 
if  he  heard  anything  now. 

"  Yes ;  now  I  hear  such  a  dreadful  crackling  and  crash- 
ing in  the  forest  on  every  side  that  I  think  I  shall  be  really 
afraid,"  said  the  youth. 

"  That  is  all  the  wild  beasts  of  the  forest,"  said  Dapple- 
grim; "they  are  sent  out  to  stop  us.  But  just  throw  out 
the  twelve  carcasses  of  the  oxen,  and  they  will  be  so  much 
occupied  with  them  that  they  will  quite  forget  us."  So  the 
youth  threw  out  the  carcasses  of  the  oxen,  and  then  all  the 
wild  beasts  in  the  forest,  both  bears  and  wolves,  and  lions, 
and  grim  beasts  of  all  kinds  came.  But  when  they  caught 
sight  of  the  carcasses  of  the  oxen  they  began  to  fight  for 
them  until  the  blood  flowed,  and  they  entirely  forgot  Dap- 
plegrim and  the  youth. 

So  the  youth  rode  onward  again,  and  many  and  many 
were  the  new  scenes  they  saw,  for  traveling  on  Dapplegrim's 
back  was  not  traveling  slowly,  as  may  be  imagined,  and  then 
Dapplegrim  neighed. 

"  Do  you  hear  anything  ? "  he  said. 

"  Yes ;  I  heard  something  like  a  foal  neighing  quite 
plainly  a  long  way  off,"  answered  the  youth. 

"  That's  a  full-grown  colt,"  said  Dapplegrim,  "  if  you  hear 
it  so  plainly  when  it  is  so  far  away  from  us." 

So  they  traveled  onward  a  long  time,  and  saw  one  new 
scene  after  another  once  more.  Then  Dapplegrim  neighed 
again- 

"  Do  you  hear  anything  now  ?  "  said  he. 

"Yes;  now  I  heard  it  quite  distinctly,  and  it  neighed 
like  a  full-grown  horse,"  answered  the  youth. 

"  Yes,  and  you  will  hear  it  again  very  soon,"  said  Dapple- 
grim ;  "  and  then  you  will  hear  what  a  voice  it  has." 

So  they  traveled  on  through  many  more  different  kinds 
of  country,  and  then  Dapplegrim  neighed  for  the  third 
time ;  but  before  he  could  ask  the  youth  if  he  heard  anything, 
there  was  such  a  neighing  on  the  other  side  of  the  heath 


THE  BED  FAIEY  BOOK.  255 

that  the  youth  thought  that  the  hills  and  rocks  would  be: 
rent  in  pieces. 

"  Now  he  is  here ! "  said  Dapplegrim.  "  Be  quick,  and 
fling  over  me  the  ox-hides  that  have  spikes  in  them,  throw 
the  twelve  tons  of  tar  over  the  field,  and  climb  up  into  that, 
great  spruce  fir  tree.  When  he  comes,  fire  will  spurt  out 
of  both  nostrils,  and  then  the  tar  will  catch  fire.  Now  mark 
what  I  say — if  the  flame  ascends  I  conquer,  and  if  it  sinks 
I  fail;  but  if  you  see  that  I  am  winning,  fling  the  bridle, 
which  you  must  take  off  me,  over  his  head,  and  then  he  will 
become  quite  gentle." 

Just  as  the  youth  had  flung  all  the  hides  with  the  spikes 
over  Dapplegrim,  and  the  tar  over  the  field,  and  had  got 


safely  up  into  the  spruce  fir,  a  horse  came  with  flame  spout- 
ing from  his  nostrils,  and  the  tar  caught  fire  in  a  moment; 
and  Dapplegrim  and  the  horse  began  to  fight  until  the 
stones  leaped  up  to  the  sky.  They  bit,  and  they  fought 
with  their  fore  legs  and  their  hind  legs,  and  sometimes  the 
youth  looked  at  them,  and  sometimes  he  looked  at  the  tar, 
but  at  last  the  flames  began  to  rise,  for  wheresoever  the 
strange  horse  bit  or  wheresoever  he  kicked  he  hit  upon  the 
spikes  in  the  hides,  and  at  length  he  had  to  yield.  When 
the  youth  saw  that,  he  was  not  long  in  getting  down  from  the 


256  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

tree  and  flinging  the  bridle  over  the  horse's  head,  and  then 
he  became  so  tame  that  he  might  have  been  led  by  a  thin 
string. 

This  horse  was  dappled  too,  and  so  like  Dapplegrim  that 
no  one  could  distinguish  the  one  from  the  other.  The 
youth  seated  himself  on  the  dappled  horse  which  he  had 
captured,  and  rode  home  again  to  the  king's  palace,  and 
Dapplegrim  ran  loose  by  his  side.  When  he  got  there,  the 
king  was  standing  outside  in  the  court-yard. 

"  Can  you  tell  me  which  is  the  horse  I  have  caught,  and 
which  is  the  one  I  had  before  ? "  said  the  youth.  "  If  you 
can't,  I  think  your  daughter  is  mine." 

The  king  went  and  looked  at  both  the  dappled  horses;  he 
looked  high  and  he  looked  low,  he  looked  before  and  he 
looked  behind,  but  there  was  not  a  hair's  difference  between 
the  two. 

"  No,"  said  the  king ;  "  that  I  cannot  tell  thee,  and  as 
thou  hast  procured  such  a  splendid  bridal  horse  for  my 
daughter  thou  shalt  have  her;  but  first  we  must  have  one 
more  trial,  just  to  see  if  thou  art  fated  to  have  her.  She 
shall  hide  herself  twice,  and  then  thou  shalt  hide  thyself 
twice.  If  thou  canst  find  her  each  time  that  she  hides  her- 
self, and  if  she  cannot  find  thee  in  thy  hiding-places,  then 
it  is  fated,  and  thou  shalt  have  the  princess." 

"  That,  too,  was  not  in  our  bargain,"  said  the  youth.  u  But 
we  will  make  this  trial  since  it  must  be  so." 

So  the  king's  daughter  was  to  hide  herself  first. 

Then  she  changed  herself  into  a  duck  and  lay  swimming 
in  a  lake  that  was  just  outside  the  palace.  But  the  youth 
went  down  into  the  stable  and  asked  Dapplegrim  what  she 
had  done  with  herself. 

"  Oh,  all  that  you  have  to  do  is  to  take  your  gun,  and  go 
down  to  the  water  and  aim  at  the  duck  which  is  swimming 
about  there,  and  she  will  soon  discover  herself,"  said  Dap- 
plegrim. 

The  youth  snatched  up  his  gun  and  ran  to  the  lake.  "I 
will  just  have  a  shot  at  that  duck,"  said  he,  and  began  to  aim 
at  it. 

"  Oh,  no,  dear  friend,  don't  shoot !  It  is  I,"  said  the  prin- 
cess.   So  he  had  found  her  once. 

The  second  time  the  princess  changed  herself  into  a  loaf, 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  257 

and  laid  herself  on  the  table  among  four  other  loaves;  and 
she  was  so  like  the  other  loaves  that  no  one  could  see  any 
difference  betwen  them. 

But  the  youth  again  went  down  to  the  stable  to  Dapple- 
grim,  and  told  him  that  the  princess  had  hidden  herself 
again,  and  that  he  had  not  the  least  idea  what  had  become 
of  her. 

"  Oh,  just  take  a  very  large  bread-knife,  sharpen  it,  and 
pretend  that  you  are  going  to  cut  straight  through  the  third 
of  the  four  loaves  which  are  lying  on  the  kitchen  table  in 
the  king's  palace — count  them  from  right  to  left — and  you 
will  soon  find  her,"  said  Dapplegrim. 

So  the  youth  went  up  to  the  kitchen,  and  began  to  sharpen 
the  largest  bread-knife  that  he  could  find;  then  he  caught 
hold  of  the  third  loaf  on  the  left-hand  side,  and  put 
the  knife  to  it  as  if  he  meant  to  cut  it  straight  in 
two.    "  I  will  have  a  bit  of  this  bread  for  myself,"  said  he. 

"  ]STo,  dear  friend,  don't  cut,  it  is  I ! "  said  the  princess 
again;  so  he  had  found  her  the  second  time. 

And  now  it  was  his  turn  to  go  and  hide  himself;  but 
Dapplegrim  had  given  him  such  good  instructions  that  it 
was  not  easy  to  find  him.  First  he  turned  himself  into  a 
horse-fly,  and  hid  himself  in  Dapplegrim's  left  nostril.  The 
princess  went  poking  about  and  searching  everywhere,  high 
and  low,  and  wanted  to  go  into  Dapplegrim's  stall  too,  but 
he  began  to  bite  and  kick  about  so  that  she  was  afraid  to 
go  there,  and  could  not  find  the  youth.  "  Well,"  said  she,  "  as 
I  am  unable  to  find  you,  you  must  show  yourself ; "  where- 
upon the  youth  immediately  appeared,  standing  there  on  the 
stable  floor. 

Dapplegrim  told  him  what  he  was  to  do  the  second  time, 
and  he  turned  himself  into  a  lump  of  earth,  and  stuck  him- 
self between  the  hoof  and  the  shoe  on  Dapplegrim's  left 
fore  foot.  Once  more  the  king's  daughter  went  and  sought 
everywhere,  inside  and  outside,  until  at  last  she  came  into 
the  stable,  and  wanted  to  go  into  the  stall  beside  Dapple- 
grim. So  this  time  he  allowed  her  to  go  into  it,  and  she 
peered  about  high  and  low,  but  she  could  not  look  under  his 
hoofs,  for  he  stood  much  too  firmly  on  his  legs  for  that,  and 
she  could  not  find  the  youth. 

"Well,  you  will  just  have  to  show  where  you  are  your- 


258  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

self,  for  I  can't  find  you,"  said  the  princess,  and  in  an  in- 
stant the  youth  was  standing  by  her  side  on  the  floor  of  the 
stable. 

"  Now  you  are  mine !  "  said  he  to  the  princess.  "  Now  you 
can  see  that  it  is  fated  that  she  should  be  mine,"  he  said  to 
the  king. 

"  Yes,  fated  it  is,"  said  the  king.  "  So  what  must  be, 
must." 

Then  everything  was  made  ready  for  the  wedding  with 
great  splendor  and  promptitude,  and  the  youth  rode  to 
church  on  Dapplegrim,  and  the  king's  daughter  on  the  other 
horse.  So  everyone  must  see  that  they  could  not  be  long  on 
their  way  thither. 


THE  ENCHANTED  CANAKY.* 
I. 

Once  upon  a  time  in  the  reign  of  King  Gambrinus, 
there  lived  at  Avesnes  one  of  his  lords,  who  was  the  finest 
man — by  which  I  mean  the  fattest — in  the  whole  country  of 
Flanders.  He  ate  four  meals  a  day,  slept  twelve  hours 
out  of  the  twenty-four,  and  the  only  thing  he  ever  did  was 
to  shoot  at  small  birds  with  his  bow  and  arrow. 

Still,  with  all  his  practice  he  shot  very  badly,  he  was  so 
fat  and  heavy,  and  as  he  grew  daily  fatter,  he  was  obliged 
to  give  up  walking,  and  be  dragged  about  in  a  wheel-chair, 
and  the  people  made  fun  of  him,  and  gave  him  the  name  of 
my  Lord  Tubby. 

Now,  the  only  trouble  that  Lord  Tubby  had  was  about  his 
son,  whom  he  loved  very  much,  although  they  were  not  in  the 
least  alike,  for  the  young  prince  was  as  thin  as  a  cuckoo. 
And  what  vexed  him  more  than  all  was,  that  though  the 
young  ladies  throughout  all  his  lands  did  their  best  to  make 
the  prince  fall  in  love  with  them,  he  would  have  nothing  to 
say  to  any  of  them,  and  told  his  father  he  did  not  wish  to 
marry. 

Instead  of  chatting  to  them  in  the  dusk,  he  wandered 
about  in  the  woods,  whispering  to  the  moon.  No  wonder  the 
*  Charles  Deulin,  Conies  du  Roi  Gambrinus. 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  259 

young  ladies  thought  him  very  odd,  but  they  liked  him  all 
the  better  for  that;  and  as  he  had  received  at  his  birth  the 
name  of  Desire,  they  all  called  him  d' Amour  Desire. 

"  What  is  the  matter  with  you  ? "  his  father  often  said  to 
him.  "You  have  everything  you  can  possibly  wish  for;  a 
good  bed,  good  food,  and  tuns  full  of  beer.  The  only  thing 
you  want,  in  order  to  become  as  fat  as  a  pig,  is  a  wife  that 
can  bring  you  broad,  rich  lands.  So  marry,  and  you  will  be 
perfectly  happy." 

"I  ask  nothing  better  than  to  marry,"  replied  Desire, 
"but  I  have  never  seen  a  woman  that  pleases  me.  All  the 
girls  here  are  pink  and  white,  and  I  am  tired  to  death  of 
their  eternal  lilies  and  roses." 

"  My  faith !  "  cried  Tubby ;  "  do  you  want  to  marry  a 
negress,  and  give  me  grandchildren  as  ugly  as  monkeys  and 
as  stupid  as  owls  ?  " 

"ISTo,  father,  nothing  of  the  sort.  But  there  must  be 
women  somewhere  in  the  world  who  are  neither  pink  nor 
white,  and  I  tell  you,  once  for  all,  that  I  will  never  marry 
until  I  have  found  one  exactly  to  my  taste." 

II. 

Some  time  afterward,  it  happened  that  the  prior  of  the 
Abbey  of  Saint  Amand  sent  to  the  Lord  of  Avesnes  a 
basket  of  oranges,  with  a  beautifully  written  letter  saying 
that  these  golden  fruit,  then  unknown  in  Flanders,  came 
straight  from  a  land  where  the  sun  always  shone. 

That  evening  Tubby  and  his  son  ate  the  golden  apples  at 
supper,  and  thought  them  delicious. 

Next  morning  as  the  day  dawned,  Desire  went  down  to 
the  stable  and  saddled  his  pretty  white  horse.  Then  he 
went,  all  dressed  for  a  journey,  to  the  bedside  of  Tubby,  and 
found  him  smoking  his  first  pipe. 

"  Father,"  he  said  gravely,  "  I  have  come  to  bid  you  fare- 
well. Last  night  I  dreamed  I  was  walking  in  a  wood,  where 
the  trees  were  covered  with  golden  apples.  I  gathered  one 
of  them,  and  when  I  opened  it  there  came  out  a  lovely 
princess  with  a  golden  skin.  That  is  the  wife  I  want,  and 
I  am  going  to  look  for  her." 

The  Lord  of  Avesnes  was  so  much  astonished  that  he  let 


260 


THE   RED    FAIRY   BOOK. 


his  pipe  fall  to  the  ground;  then  he  became  so  diverted  at 
the  notion  of  his  son  marrying  a  yellow  woman,  and  a 
woman  shut  up  inside  an  orange,  that  he  burst  into  fits  of 
laughter, 

Desire  waited  to  bid  him  good-by  until  he  was  quiet 
again;  but  as  his  father  went  on  laughing  and  showed  no 
signs  of  stopping,  the  young  man  took  his  hand,  kissed  it 
tenderly,  opened  the  door,  and  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye 


was  at  the  bottom  of  the  staircase.  He  jumped  lightly 
on  his  horse,  and  was  a  mile  from  home  before  Tubby  had 
ceased  laughing. 

"  A  yellow  wife !  He  must  be  mad  !  fit  for  a  strait 
waistcoat,"  cried  the  good  man,  when  he  was  able  to  speak. 
"  Here !  quick !  bring  him  back  to  me." 

The  servants  mounted  their  horses  and  rode  after  the 
prince;  but  as  they  did  not  know  which  road  he  had  taken, 
they  went  all  ways  except  the  right  one,  and  instead  of  bring- 
ing him  back  they  returned  themselves  when  it  grew  dark. 


THE  BED  FAIRY  BOOK.  261 

HI. 

When  Desire  thought  they  could  no  longer  catch  him, 
he  pulled  his  horse  into  a  walk,  like  a  prudent  man  who 
knows  he  has  far  to  go.  He  traveled  in  this  way  for  many 
weeks,  passing  by  villages,  towns,  mountains,  valleys,  and 
plains,  but  always  pushing  south,  where  every  day  the  sun 
seemed  hotter  and  more  brilliant. 

At  last,  one  day  at  sunset,  Desire  felt  the  sun  so  warm 
that  he  thought  that  he  must  now  be  near  the  place  of  his 
dream.  He  was  at  that  moment  close  to  the  corner  of  a 
wood  where  stood  a  little  hut,  before  the  door  of  which  his 
horse  stopped  of  his  own  accord.  An  old  man  with  a 
white  beard  was  sitting  on  the  doorstep,  enjoying  the  fresh 
air.  The  prince  got  down  from  his  horse  and  asked  leave 
to  rest, 

"  Come  in,  my  young  friend,"  said  the  old  man ;  "  my 
house  is  not  large,  but  it  is  big  enough  to  hold  a  stranger." 

The  traveler  entered,  and  his  host  put  before  him  a 
simple  meal.  When  his  hunger  was  satisfied  the  old  man 
said  to  him: 

"If  I  do  not  mistake,  you  come  from  far.  May  I  ask 
where  you  are  going  ? " 

"I  will  tell  you,"  answered  Desire,  "though  most  likely 
you  will  laugh  at  me.  I  dreamed  that  in  the  land  of  the 
sun  there  was  a  wood  full  of  orange-trees,  and  that  in  one 
of  the  oranges  I  should  find  a  beautiful  princess  who  is  to 
be  my  wife.    It  is  she  I  am  seeking." 

"  Why  should  I  laugh?  "  asked  the  old  man.  "  Madness  in 
youth  is  true  wisdom.  Go,  young  man,  follow  your  dream, 
and  if  you  do  not  find  the  happiness  that  you  seek,  at  any 
rate  you  will  have  had  the  happiness  of  seeking  it." 

IV. 

The  next  day  the  prince  arose  early  and  took  leave  of  his 
host. 

"The  wood  that  you  saw  in  your  dream  is  not  far  from 
here,"  said  the  old  man.  "  It  is  in  the  depth  of  a  forest,  and 
this  road  will  lead  you  there.  You  will  come  to  a  vast  park 
surrounded  by  high  walls.    In  the  middle  of  the  park  is  a 


262  THE   RED   FAIRY   BOOK 

castle,  where  dwells  a  horrible  witch  who  allows  no  living 
being  to  enter  the  doors.  Behind  the  castle  is  the  orange 
grove.  Follow  the  wall  till  you  come  to  a  heavy  iron  gate. 
Don't  try  to  press  it  open,  but  oil  the  hinges  with  this,"  and 
the  old  man  gave  him  a  small  bottle. 

"  The  gate  will  open  of  itself,"  he  continued,  "  and  a  huge 
dog  which  guards  the  castle  will  come  to  you  with  his 
mouth  wide  open,  but  just  throw  him  this  oat  cake.  Next, 
you  will  see  a  baking-woman  leaning  over  her  heated  oven. 
Give  her  this  brush.  Lastly,  you  will  find  a  well  on  your 
left;  do  not  forget  to  take  the  cord  off  the  bucket  and  spread 
it  in  the  sun.  When  you  have  done  this  do  not  enter  the  cas- 
tle, but  go  round  and  enter  the  orange  grove. ,  Then  gather 
three  oranges,  and  get  back  to  the  gate  as  fast  as  you  can. 
Once  out  of  the  gate,  leave  the  forest  by  the  opposite  side. 

"Now,  attend  to  this:  whatever  happens,  do  not  open 
your  oranges  till  you  reach  the  bank  of  a  river,  or  a  foun- 
tain. Out  of  each  orange  will  come  a  princess,  and  you 
can  choose  which  you  like  for  your  wife.  Your  choice  once 
made,  be  very  careful  never  to  leave  your  bride  for  an  in- 
stant, and  remember  that  the  danger  which  is  most  to  be 
feared  is  never  the  danger  we  are  most  afraid  of." 

V. 

Desire  thanked  his  host  warmly,  and  took  the  road  he 
pointed  out.  In  less  than  an  hour  he  arrived  at  the  wall, 
which  was  very  high  indeed.  He  sprang  to  the  ground, 
fastened  his  horse  to  a  tree,  and  soon  found  the  iron  gate. 
Then  he  took  out  his  bottle  and  oiled  the  hinges,  when 
the  gate  opened  of  itself,  and  he  saw  an  old  castle  standing 
inside.     The  prince  entered  boldly  into  the  court-yard. 

Suddenly  he  heard  fierce  howls*  and  a  dog  as  tall  as  a  don- 
key, with  eyes  like  billiard  balls,  came  toward  him,  showing 
his  teeth,  which  were  like  the  prongs  of  a  fork.  Desire 
flung  him  the  oat  cake,  which  the  great  dog  instantly 
snapped  up,  and  the  young  prince  passed  quietly  on. 

A  few  yards  further  he  saw  a  huge  oven,  with  a  wide, 
red-hot  gaping  mouth.  A  woman  as  tall  as  a  giant  was 
leaning  over  the  oven.  Desire  gave  her  the  brush,  which 
ehe  took  in  silence. 


THE   RED   FAIRY   BOOK. 


263 


Then  lie  went  on  to  the  well,  drew  up  the  cord,  which 
was  half-rotten,  and  stretched  it  out  in  the  sun. 

Lastly  he  went  round  the  castle,  and  plunged  into  the 
orange  grove.  There  he  gathered  the  three  most  beautiful 
oranges  he  could  find,  and  turned  to  go  back  to  the  gate. 

But  just  at  this  moment  the  sun  was  darkened,  the  earth 
trembled,  and  Desire  heard  a  voice  crying: 

"  Baker,  baker,  ta*ke  him  by  his  feet,  and  throw  him  into 
the  oven ! " 

"  No,"  replied  the  baker ;  "  a  long  time  has  passed  since 
I  first  began  4;o  scour  this  oven  with  my  own  flesh.     You 


never  cared  to  give  me  a  brush;  but  he  has  given  me  one, 
and  he  shall  go  in  peace." 

"  Rope,  oh,  rope ! "  cried  the  voice  again,  "  twine  your- 
self round  his  neck  and  strangle  him." 

"No,"  replied  the  rope;  "you  have  left  me  for  many 


264  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

years  past  to  fall  to  pieces  with  the  damp.  He  has  stretched 
me  out  in  the  sun.    Let  him  go  in  peace." 

"Dog,  my  good  dog,"  cried  the  voice,  more  and  more 
angry,  "jump  at  his  throat  and  eat  him  up." 

"  No,"  replied  the  dog ;  "  though  I  have  served  you  long, 
you  never  gave  me  any  bread.  He  has  given  me  as  much 
as  I  want.    Let  him  go  in  peace." 

"  Iron  gate,  iron  gate,"  cried  the  voice,  growling  like 
thunder,  "  fall  on  him  and  grind  him  to  powder." 

"  No,"  replied  the  gate ;  "  it  is  a  hundred  years  since  you 
left  me  to  rust,  and  he  has  oiled  me.    Let  him  go  in  peace." 

VI. 

Once  outside,  the  young  adventurer  put  his  oranges  into 
a  bag  that  hung  from  his  saddle,  mounted  his  horse,  and 
rode  quickly  out  of  the  forest. 

Now,  as  he  was  longing  to  see  the  princesses,  he  was 
anxious  to  come  to  a  river  or  a  fountain,  but,  though  he 
rode  for  hours,  a  river  or  a  fountain  was  nowhere  to  be 
seen.  Still  his  heart  was  light,  for  he  felt  that  he  had  got 
through  the  most  difficult  part  of  his  task,  and  the  rest  was 
easy. 

About  mid-day  he  reached  a  sandy  plain,  scorching  in 
the  sun.  Here  he  was  seized  with  dreadful  thirst;  he  took 
his  gourd  and  raised  it  to  his  lips. 

But  the  gourd  was  empty;  in  the  excitement  of  his  joy 
he  had  forgotten  to  fill  it.  He  rode  on,  struggling  with 
his  sufferings,  but  at  last  he  could  bear  it  no  longer. 

He  let  himself  slide  to  the  earth,  and  lay  down  beside  his 
horse,  his  throat  burning,  his  chest  heaving,  and  his  head 
going  round.  Already  he  felt  that  death  was  near  him,, 
when  his  eyes  fell  on  the  bag  where  the  oranges  peeped  out. 

Poor  Desire,  who  had  braved  so  many  dangers  to  win  the 
lady  of  his  dreams,  would  have  given  at  this  moment  all 
the  princesses  in  the  world,  were  they  pink  or  golden,  for 
a  single  drop  of  water. 

"  Ah !  "  he  said  to  himself.  "  If  only  these  oranges  were 
real  fruit— fruit  as  refreshing  as  what  I  ate  in  Flanders! 
And,  after  all,  who  knows  ? " 

This  idea  put  some  life  into  him.     He  had  the  strength 


THE   RED   FAIRY   BOOK. 


265 


The  Princess  Zizi.is  Restored  to  her  Proper  Shape. 


co  lift  himself  up  and  put  his  hand  into  his  bag.  He  drew 
out  an  orange  and  opened  it  with  his  knife. 

Out  of  it  flew  the  prettiest  little  female  canary  that  ever 
was  seen. 

"  Give  me  something  to  drink,  I  am  dying  of  thirst,"  said 
the  golden  bird. 


266  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

"  Wait  a  minute,"  replied  Desire,  so  much  astonished  that 
he  forgot  his  own  sufferings;  and  to  satisfy  the  bird  he  took 
a  second  orange,  and  opened  it  without  thinking  what  he  was 
doing.  Out  of  it  flew  another  canary,  and  she  too  began  to 
cry: 

"  I  am  dying  of  thirst ;  give  me  something  to  drink." 
Then  Tubby's  son  saw  his  folly,  and  while  the  two  canaries 
flew  away  he  sank  on  the  ground,  where,  exhausted  by  his 
last  effort,  he  lay  unconscious. 

vn. 

When  he  came  to  himself,  he  had  a  pleasant  feeling  of 
freshness  all  about  him.  It  was  night,  the  sky  was  spark- 
ling with  stars,  and  the  earth  was  covered  with  a  heavy  dew. 

The  traveler,  having  recovered,  mounted  his  horse,  and  at 
the  first  streak  of  dawn  he  saw  a  stream  dancing  in  front  of 
him,  and  stooped  down  and  drank  his  fill. 

He  hardly  had  courage  to  open  his  last  orange.  Then 
he  remembered  that  the  night  before  he  had  disobeyed  the 
orders  of  the  old  man.  Perhaps  his  terrible  thirst  was  a 
trick  of  the  old  witch,  and  suppose,  even  though  he  opened 
the  orange  on  the  banks  of  the  stream,  that  he  did  not  find  in 
it  the  princess  that  he  sought  ? 

He  took  his  knife  and  cut  it  open.  Alas !  out  of  it  flew  a 
little  canary,  just  like  the  others,  who  cried: 

"  I  am  thirsty ;  give  me  something  to  drink." 

Great  was  the  disappointment  of  Desire.  However,  he 
was  determined  not  to  let  this  bird  fly  away;  so  he  took  up 
some  water  in  the  palm  of  his  hand  and  held  it  to  its  beak. 

Scarcely  had  the  canary  drank  when  she  became  a  beau- 
tiful girl,  tall  and  straight  as  a  poplar  tree,  with  black  eyes 
and  a  golden  skin.  Desire  had  never  seen  anyone  half  so 
lovely,  and  he  stood  gazing  at  her  in  delight. 

On  her  side  she  seemed  quite  bewildered,  but  she  looked 
about  her  with  happy  eyes,  and  was  not  at  all  afraid  of  her 
deliverer. 

He  asked  her  name.  She  answered  that  she  was  called 
the  Princess  Zizi;  she  was  about  sixteen  years  old,  and 
for  ten  years  of  that  time  the  witch  had  kept  her  shut  up  in 
an  orange,  in  the  shape  of  a  canary. 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  267 

"Well,  then,  my  charming  Zizi,"  said  the  young  prince, 
who  was  longing  to  marry  her,  "  let  us  ride  away  quickly  so 
as  to  escape  from  the  wicked  witch." 

But  Zizi  wished  to  know  where  he  wished  to  take  her. 

"  To  my  father's  castle,"  he  said. 

He  mounted  his  horse  and  took  her  in  front  of  him, 
and,  holding  her  carefully  in  his  arms,  they  began  their 
journey. 

vm. 

Everything  the  princess  saw  was  new  to  her,  and  in  pass- 
ing through  the  mountains,  valleys,  and  towns,  she  asked  a 
thousand  questions.  Desire  was  charmed  to  answer  them. 
It  is  so  delightful  to  teach  those  one  loves  i 

Once  she  inquired  what  the  girls  in  his  country  were 
like. 

"  They  are  pink  and  white,"  he  replied,  "  and  their  eyes 
are  blue. 

"  Do  you  like  blue  eyes  ? "  said  the  princess ;  but  Desire 
thought  it  was  a  good  opportunity  to  find  out  what  was  in 
her  heart,  so  he  did  not  answer.  "  And  no  doubt,"  went  on 
the  princess,  "  one  of  them  is  your  intended  bride  ?  " 

Still  he  was  silent,  and  Zizi  drew  herself  up  proudly. 

"No,"  he  said  at  last.  "None  of  the  girls  of  my  own 
country  are  beautiful  in  my  eyes,  and  that  is  why  I  came  to 
look  for  a  wife  in  the  land  of  the  sun.  Was  I  wrong,  my 
lovely  Zizi  ? " 

This  time  it  was  Zizi's  turn  to  be  silent. 


IX. 


Talking  in  this  way  they  drew  near  the  castle.  When 
they  were  about  four  stone-throws  from  the  gates  they 
dismounted  in  the  forest,  by  the  edge  of  a  fountain. 

"My  dear  Zizi,"  said  Tubbv's  son,  "we  cannot  present 
ourselves  before  my  father  like  two  common  people  who 
have  come  back  from  a  walk.  We  must  enter  the  castle  with 
more  ceremony.  Wait  for  me  here,  and  in  an  hour  I  will 
return  with  carriages  and  horses  fit  for  a  princess." 


268  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

"Don't  be  long,"  replied  Zizi,  and  she  watched  him  go 
with  wistful  eyes. 

When  she  was  left  by  herself  the  poor  girl  began  to  feel 
afraid.  She  was  alone  for  the  first  time  in  her  life,  and  in 
the  middle  of  a  thick  forest. 

Suddenly  she  heard  a  noise  among  the  trees.  Fearing 
lest  it  should  be  a  wolf,  she  hid  herself  in  the  hollow  trunk 
of  a  willow  tree  which  hung  over  the  fountain.  It  was  big 
enough  to  hold  her  altogether,  but  she  peeped  out,  and  her 
pretty  head  was  reflected  in  the  clear  water. 

Then  there  appeared,  not  a  wolf,  but  a  creature  quite 
as  wicked  and  quite  as  ugly.  Let  us  see  who  this  creature 
was. 


'Not  far  from  the  fountain  there  lived  a  family  of 
bricklayers.  Now,  fifteen  years  before  this  time,  the  father 
in  walking  through  the  forest  found  a  little  girl,  who  had 
been  deserted  by  the  gypsies.  He  carried  her  home  to  his 
wife,  and  the  good  woman  was  sorry  for  her,  and  brought 
her  up  with  her  own  sons.  As  she  grew  older,  the  little 
gypsy  became  much  more  remarkable  for  strength  and 
cunning  than  for  sense  or  beauty.  She  had  a  low  forehead, 
a  flat  nose,  thick  lips,  coarse  hair,  and  a  skin  not  golden  like 
that  of  Zizi,  but  the  color  of  clay. 

As  she  was  always  being  teased  about  her  complexion, 
she  got  as  noisy  and  cross  as  a  titmouse.  So  they  used  to 
call  her  Titty. 

Titty  was  often  sent  by  the  bricklayer  to  fetch  water 
from  the  fountain,  and  as  she  was  very  proud  and  lazy  the 
gypsy  disliked  this  very  much. 

It  was  she  who  had  frightened  Zizi  by  appearing  with 
her  pitcher  on  her  shoulder.  Just  as  she  was  stooping  to 
fill  it,  she  saw  reflected  in  the  water  the  lovely  image  of  the 
princess. 

"  What  a  pretty  face !  "  she  exclaimed.  "  Why,  it  must 
be  mine!  How  in  the  world  can  they  call  me  ugly?  I  am 
certainly  much    too  pretty  to  be  their  water-carrier !  " 

So  saying,  she  broke  her  pitcher  and  went  home. 

"  Where  is  your  pitcher  ?  "  asked  the  bricklayer. 


THE  BED  FAIRY  BOOK.  269 

"Well,  what  do  you  expect?  The  pitcher  may  go  many 
times  to  the  well " 

"But  at  last  it  is  broken.  Well,  here  is  a  bucket  that 
will  not  break." 

The  gypsy  returned  to  the  fountain,  and  addressing  once 
more  the  image  of  Zizi,  she  said: 

"  No ;  I  don't  mean  to  be  a  beast  of  burden  any  longer." 

And  she  flung  the  bucket  so  high  in  the  air  that  it  stuck 
in  the  branches  of  an  oak. 

"  I  met  a  wolf,"  she  told  the  bricklayer,  "  and  I  broke 
the  bucket  across  his  nose." 

The  bricklayer  asked  her  no  more  questions,  but  took 
down  a  broom  and  gave  her  such  a  beating  that  her  pride 
was  humbled  a  little. 

Then  he  handed  to  her  an  old  copper  milk-can,  and  said : 

"If  you  don't  bring  it  back  full,  your  bones  shall  suffer 
for  it." 

XL 

Titty  went  off  rubbing  her  sides;  but  this  time  she  did 
not  dare  to  disobey,  and  in  a  very  bad  temper  stooped  down 
over  the  well.  It  was  not  at  all  easy  to  fill  the  milk-can, 
which  was  large  and  round.  It  would  not  go  down  into 
the  well,  and  the  gypsy  had  to  try  again  and  again. 

At  last  her  arms  grew  so  tired  that  when  she  did  manage 
to  get  the  can  properly  under  the  water  she  had  no  strength 
to  pull  it  up,  and  it  rolled  to  the  bottom. 

On  seeing  the  can  disappear,  she  made  such  a  miserable 
face  that  Zizi,  who  had  been  watching  her  all  this  time, 
burst  into  fits  of  laughter. 

Titty  turned  round  and  perceived  the  mistake  she  had 
made;  and  she  felt  so  angry  that  she  made  up  her  mind  to 
be  revenged  at  once. 

"  What  are  you  doing  there,  you  lovely  creature  ? "  she 
said  to  Zizi. 

"I  am  waiting  for  my  lover,"  Zizi  replied;  and  then, 
with  a  simplicity  quite  natural  in  a  girl  who  so  lately  had 
been  a  canary,  she  told  all  her  story. 

The  gypsy  had  often  seen  the  young  prince  pass  by,  with 
his  gun  on  his  shoulder,  when  he  was  going  after  crows. 


270 


THE   RED    FAIRY   BOOK. 


She  was  too  ugly  and  ragged  for  him  ever  to  have  noticed 
her,  but  Titty  on  her  side  had  admired  him,  though  she 
thought  he  might  well  have  been  a  little  fatter. 

"  Dear,  dear !  "  she  said  to  herself.  "  So  he  likes  yellow 
women!  Why,  I  am  yellow  too,  and  if  I  could  only  think 
of  a  way " 

It  was  not  long  before  she  did  think  of  it. 

"  What ! "  cried  the  sly  Titty,  "  they  are  coming  with 
great  pomp  to  fetch  you,  and  you  are  not  afraid  to  show 


yourself  to  so  many  fine  lords  and  ladies  with  your  hair 
down  like  that?  Get  down  at  once,  my  poor  child,  and  let 
me  dress  your  hair  for  you !  " 

The   innocent    Zizi    came    down    at    once,    and    stood    by 
Titty.     The  gypsy  began   to   comb  her  long   brown  locks, 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  271 

when  suddenly  she  drew  a  pin  from  her  stays,  and,  just  as 
the  titmouse  digs  its  beak  into  the  heads  of  linnets  and 
larks,  Titty  dug  the  pin  into  the  head  of  Zizi. 

No  sooner  did  Zizi  feel  the  prick  of  the  pin  than  she 
became  a  bird  again,  and,  spreading  her  wings,  she  flew 
away. 

"  That  was  neatly  done,"  said  the  gypsy.  "  The  prince 
will  be  clever  if  he  finds  his  bride."  And,  arranging  her 
dress,  she  seated  herself  on  the  grass  to  await  Desire. 


xn. 

Meanwhile  the  prince  was  coming  as  fast  as  his  horse 
could  carry  him.  He  was  so  impatient  that  he  was  always 
full  fifty  yards  in  front  of  the  lords  and  ladies  sent  by 
Tubby  to  bring  back  Zizi. 

At  the  sight  of  the  hideous  gypsy  he  was  struck  dumb 
with  surprise  and  horror. 

"  Ah,  me !  "  said  Titty,  "  so  you  don't  know  your  poor 
Zizi?  While  you  were  away  the  wicked  witch  came,  and 
turned  me  into  this.  But  if  you  only  have  the  courage  to 
marry  me  I  shall  get  back  my  beauty."  And  she  began 
to  cry  bitterly. 

Now  the  good-natured  Desire  was  as  soft-hearted  as  he 
was  brave.  "Poor  girl,"  he  thought  to  himself.  "It  is 
not  her  fault,  after  all,  that  she  has  grown  so  ugly,  it  is 
mine.  Oh!  why  did  I  not  follow  the  old  man's  advice? 
Why  did  I  leave  her  alone?  And  besides,  it  depends  on 
me  to  break  the  spell,  and  I  love  her  too  much  to  let  her 
remain  like  this." 

So  he  presented  the  gypsy  to  the  lords  and  ladies  of  the 
court,  explaining  to  them  the  terrible  misfortune  which 
had  befallen  his  beautiful  bride. 

They  all  pretended  to  believe  it,  and  the  ladies  at  once 
put  on  the  false  princess  the  rich  dresses  they  had  brought 
for  Zizi. 

She  was  then  perched  on  the  top  of  a  magnificent  ambling 
palfrey,  and  they  set  forth  to  the  castle. 

But  unluckily  the  rich  dress  and  jewels  only  made  Titty 
look  uglier   still,   and   Desire   could  not  help  feeling  hot 


272  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

and  uncomfortable  when  he  made  his  entry  with  her  into 
the  city. 

Bells  were  pealing,  chimes  ringing,  and  the  people  filling 
the  streets  and  standing  at  their  doors  to  watch  the  pro- 
cession go  by,  and  they  could  hardly  believe  their  eyes  as 
they  saw  what  a  strange  bride  their  prince  had  chosen. 

In  order  to  do  her  more  honor,  Tubby  came  to  meet  her 
at  the  foot  of  the  great  marble  staircase.     At  the  sight  of. 
the  hideous  creature  he  almost  fell  backward. 

"What!"  he  cried.     "Is  this  the  wonderful  beauty?" 

"Yes,  father,  it  is  she,"  replied  Desire  with  a  sheepish 
look.  "  But  she  has  been  bewitched  by  a  wicked  sorceress, 
and  will  not  regain  her  beauty  until  she  is  my  wife." 

"Does  she  say  so?  Well,  if  you  believe  that,  you  may 
drink  cold  water  and  think  it  bacon,"  the  unhappy  Tubby 
answered  crossly. 

But  all  the  same,  as  he  adored  his  son,  he  gave  the  gypsy 
his  hand  and  led  her  to  the  great  hall,  where  the  bridal  feast 
was  spread. 

XIII. 

The  feast  was  excellent,  but  Desire  hardly  touched  any- 
thing. However,  to  make  up,  the  other  guests  ate  greedily, 
and  as  for  Tubby,  nothing  ever  took  away  his  appetite. 

When  the  moment  arrived  to  serve  the  roast  goose,  there 
was  a  pause,  and  Tubby  took  the  opportunity  to  lay  down 
his  knife  and  fork  for  a  little.  But  as  the  goose  gave  no 
sign  of  appearing,  he  sent  his  head  carver  to  find  out  what 
was  the  matter  in  the  kitchen. 

Now  this  was  what  had  happened. 

While  the  goose  was  turning  on  the  spit,  a  beautiful  little 
canary  hopped  on  to  the  sill  of  the  open  window. 

"  Good-morning,  my  fine  cook,"  she  said  in  a  silvery  voice 
to  the  man  who  was  watching  the  roast. 

"  Good-morning,  lovely  golden  bird,"  replied  the  chief  of 
the  scullions,  who  had  been  well  brought  up. 

"I  pray  that  Heaven  may  send  you  to  sleep,"  said  the 
golden  bird,  "and  that  the  goose  may  burn,  so  that  there 
may  be  none  left  for  Titty." 

And  instantly  the  chief  of  the  scullions  fell  fast  asleep, 
and  the  goose  was  burned  to  a  cinder. 


THE   RED    FAIRY   BOOK. 


273 


When  he  awoke  he  was  horrified,  and  gave  orders  to 
pluck  another  goose,  to  stuff  it  with  chestnuts,  and  put  it 
on  the  spit. 

While  it  was  browning  at  the  fire,  Tubby  inquired  for 
his  goose  a  second  time.  The  master  cook  himself  mounted 
to  the  hall  to  make  his  excuses,  and  to  beg  his  lord  to  have 
a  little  patience.  Tubby  showed  his  patience  by  abusing  his 
son. 

"  As  if  it  wasn't  enough,"  he  grumbled  between  his  teeth, 


"that  the  boy  should  pick  up  a  hag  without  a  penny,  but 
the  goose  must  go  and  burn  now.  It  isn't  a  wife  he  has 
brought  me,  it  is  Famine  herself." 


XIV. 


While  the  master  cook  was  upstairs,  the  golden  bird 
came  again  to  perch  on  the  window-sill,  and  called  in  her 
clear  voice  to  the  head  scullion,  who  was  watching  the  spit : 

"  Good-morning,  my  fine  scullion !  " 

"  Good-moming,  lovely  golden  bird,"  replied  tbe  scullion, 
whom  the  master  cook  had  forgotten  in  his  excitement  to 
warn. 

"I  pray  Heaven,"  went  on  the  canary,  "that  it  will  send 


274  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

you  to  sleep,  and  that  the  goose  may  burn,  so  that  there 
may  be  none  left  for  Titty." 

And  the  scullion  fell  fast  asleep,  and  when  the  master 
cook  came  back  he  found  the  goose  as  black  as  the  chimney. 

In  a  fury  he  woke  the  scullion,  who  in  order  to  save  him- 
self from  blame  told  the  whole  story. 

"  That  accursed  bird,"  said  the  cook ;  "  it  will  end  by 
getting  me  sent  away.  Come,  some  of  you,  and  hide  your- 
selves, and  if  it  comes  again,  catch  it  and  wring  its  neck." 

He  spitted  a  third  goose,  lit  a  huge  fire,  and  seated  himself 
by  it. 

The  bird  appeared  a  third  time,  and  said:  "Good-morn- 
ing, my  fine  cook." 

"  Good-morning,  lovely  golden  bird,"  replied  the  cook,  as 
if  nothing  had  happened,  and  at  the  moment  that  the 
canary  was  beginning,  "  I  pray  Heaven  that  it  may  send," 
a  scullion  who  was  hidden  outside  rushed  out  and  shut  the 
shutters.  The  bird  flew  into  the  kitchen.  Then  all  the 
cooks  and  scullions  sprang  after  it,  knocking  at  it  with 
their  aprons.  At  length  one  of  them  caught  it  just  at  the 
very  moment  that  Tubby  entered  the  kitchen,  waving  his 
scepter.  He  had  come  to  see  for  himself  why  the  goose  had 
never  made  its  appearance. 

The  scullion  stopped  at  once,  just  as  he  was  about  to  wring 
the  canary's  neck. 


XV. 

"Will  someone  be  kind  enough  to  tell  me  the  meaning 
of  all  this  ? "  cried  the  Lord  of  Avesnes. 

"  Your  excellency,  it  is  the  bird,"  replied  the  scullion,  and 
he  placed  it  in  his  hand. 

"  Nonsense !  What  a  lovely  bird ! "  said  Tubby,  and  in 
stroking  its  head  he  touched  a  pin  that  was  sticking  between 
its  feathers.  He  pulled  it  out,  and  lo!  the  canary  at  once 
became  a  beautiful  girl  with  a  golden  skin  who  jumped 
lightly  to  the  ground. 

"  Gracious !  what  a  pretty  girl ! "  said  Tubby. 

"  Father !  it  is  she !  it  is  Zizi ! "  exclaimed  Desire,  who 
entered  at  this  moment. 


THE   RED   FAIRY   BOOK. 


275 


And  he  took  her  in  his  arms,  crying:  "My  darling  Zizi, 
how  happy  I  am  to  see  you  once  more ! " 

"  Well,  and  the  other  one  ?  "  asked  Tubby. 

The  other  one  was  stealing  quietly  to  the  door. 

"  Stop  her!  "  called  Tubby.  "  We  will  judge  her  cause  at 
once." 

And  he  seated  himself  solemnly  on  the  oven,  and  con- 
demned Titty  to  be  burned  alive.  After  which  the  lords 
and  cooks  formed  themselves  in  lines,  and  Tubby  betrothed 
Desire  to  Zizi. 


XVI. 


The  marriage  took  place  a  few  days  later.  All  the  boys 
in  the  countryside  were  there,  armed  with  wooden  swords, 
and  decorated  with  epaulets  made  of  gilt  paper. 

Zizi  obtained  Titty's  pardon,  and  she  was  sent  back  to  the 
brick-fields,  followed  and  hooted  at  by  all  the  boys,  and  this 
is  why  to-day  the  country  boys  always  throw  stones  at  a 
titmouse. 

On  the  evening  of  the  wedding-day  all  the  larders,  eel- 


276  THE  BED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

lars,  cupboards,  and  tables  of  the  people,  whether  rich  or 
poor,  were  loaded  as  if  by  enchantment  with  bread,  wine, 
beer,  cakes  and  tarts,  roast  larks,  and  even  geese,  so  that 
Tubby  could  not  complain  any  more  that  his  son  had  married 
Famine. 

Since  that  time  there  has  always  been  plenty  to  eat  in 
that  country,  and  since  that  time,  too,  you  see  in  the  midst 
of  the  fair-haired  blue-eyed  women  of  Flanders  a  few  beauti- 
ful girls,  whose  eyes  are  black  and  whose  skins  are  the  color 
of  gold.    They  are  the  descendants  of  Zizi. 


THE   TWELVE   BKOTHERS.* 

There  were  once  upon  a  time  a  king  and  a  queen  who 
lived  happily  together,  and  they  had  twelve  children,  all 
of  whom  were  boys.     One  day  the  king  said  to  his  wife : 

"  If  our  thirteenth  child  is  a  girl,  all  her  twelve  brothers 
must  die,  so  that  she  may  be  very  rich  and  the  kingdom  hers 
alone." 

Then  he  ordered  twelve  coffins  to  be  made,  and  filled  them 
with  shavings,  and  placed  a  little  pillow  in  each.  These  he 
put  away  in  an  empty  room,  and  giving  the  key  to  his  wife, 
he  bade  her  tell  no  one  of  it. 

The  queen  grieved  over  the  sad  fate  of  her  sons  and  re- 
fused to  be  comforted,  so  much  so  that  the  youngest  boy,  who 
was  always  with  her,  and  whom  she  had  christened  Benja- 
min, said  to  her  one  day: 

"  Dear  mother,  why  are  you  so  sad  ? " 

"  My  child,"  she  answered,  "  I  may  not  tell  you  the  reason." 

But  he  left  her  no  peace,  till  she  went  and  unlocked  the 
room  and  showed  him  the  twelve  coffins  filled  with  shav- 
ings, and  with  the  little  pillow  laid  in  each. 

Then  she  said:  "My  dearest  Benjamin,  your  father  has 
had  these  coffins  made  for  you  and  your  eleven  brothers, 
because  if  I  bring  a  girl  into  the  world  you  are  all  to  be 
killed  and  buried  in  them." 

She  wept  bitterly  as  she  spoke,  but  her  son  comforted  her 
and  said: 

♦Grimm. 


THE   RED   FAIRY   BOOK. 


277 


"Don't  cry,  dear  mother;  we'll  manage  to  escape  some- 
how, and  will  fly  for  our  lives." 

"Yes,"  replied  his  mother,  "that  is  what  you  must  do — 
go  with  your  eleven  brothers  out  into  the  wood,  and  let  one 
of  you  always  sit  on  the  highest  tree  you  can  find, 
keeping  watch  on  the  tower  of  the  castl«.  If  I  give  birth 
to  a  little  son  I  will  wave  a  white  flag,  and  then  you  may 
safely  return;  but  if  I  give  birth  to  a  little  daughter  I  will 
wave  a  red  flag,  which  will  warn  you  to  fly  away  as  quickly 
as  you  can,  and  may  the  kind  Heaven  have  pity  on  you. 
Every  night  I  will  get  up  and  pray  for  you,  in  winter  that 


&  *  r-r' l^'.'-''. 


yeu  may  always  have  a  fire  to  warm  yourselves  by,  and  in 
summer  that  you  may  not  languish  in  the  heat." 

Then  she  blessed  her  sons  and  they  set  out  into  the  wood. 
They  found  a  very  high  oak  tree,  and  there  they  sat,  turn 
about,  keeping  their  eyes  always  fixed  on  the  castle  tower. 
On  the  twelfth  day  when  the  turn  came  to  Benjamin,  he  no- 


278  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

ticed  a  flag  waving  in  the  air,  but  alas!  it  was  not  white, 
but  blood-red,  the  sign  which  told  them  they  must  all  die. 
When  the  brothers  heard  this  they  were  very  angry,  and 
said: 

"  Shall  we  forsooth  suffer  death  for  the  sake  of  a  wretched 
girl?  Let  us  swear  vengeance,  and  vow  that  wherever  and 
wherever  we  shall  meet  one  of  her  sex,  she  shall  die  at  our 
hands." 

Then  they  went  their  way  deeper  into  the  wood,  and  in 
the  middle  of  it,  where  it  was  thickest  and  darkest,  they 
came  upon  a  little  enchanted  house  which  stood  empty. 

"Here,"  they  said,  "let  us  take  up  our  abode,  and  you, 
Benjamin,  you  are  the  youngest  and  weakest,  you  shall  stay 
at  home  and  keep  house  for  us;  we  others  will  go  out  and 
fetch  food."  So  they  went  forth  into  the  wood,  and  shot 
hares  and  roe-deer,  birds  and  wood-pigeons,  and  any  other 
game  they  came  across.  They  always  brought  their  spoils 
home  to  Benjamin,  who  soon  learned  to  make  them  into 
dainty  dishes.  So  they  lived  for  ten  years  in  this  little 
house,  and  the  time  slipped  merrily  away. 

In  the  meantime  their  little  sister  at  home  was  growing 
up  quickly.  She  was  kind-hearted  and  of  a  fair  countenance, 
and  she  had  a  gold  star  right  in  the  middle  of  her  forehead. 
One  day  a  big  washing  was  going  on  at  the  palace,  and  the 
girl  looking  down  from  her  window  saw  twelve  men's  shirts 
hanging  up  to  dry,  and  asked  her  mother: 

"Who  in  the  world  do  these  shirts  belong  to?  Surely 
they  are  far  too  small  for  my  father  ? " 

And  the  queen  answered  sadly :  "  Dear  child,  they  belong 
to  your  twelve  brothers." 

"But  where  are  my  twelve  brothers?"  said  the  girl.  "I 
have  never  even  heard  of  them." 

"  Heaven  alone  knows  in  what  part  of  the  wide  world  they 
are  wandering,"  replied  her  mother. 

Then  she  took  the  girl  and  opened  the  locked-up  room; 
she  showed  her  the  twelve  coffins  filled  with  shavings, 
and  with  the  little  pillow  laid  in  each. 

"  These  coffins,"  she  said,  "  were  intended  for  your 
brothers,  but  they  stole  secretly  away  before  you  were  born." 

Then  she  proceeded  to  tell  her  all  that  had  happened, 
and  when  she  had  finished  her  daughter  said: 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  279 

"Do  not  cry,  dearest  mother;  I  will  go  forth  and  seek  my 
brothers  till  I  find  them." 

So  she  took  the  twelve  shirts  and  went  on  straight  into 
the  middle  of  the  big  wood.  She  walked  all  day  long,  and 
came  in  the  evening  to  the  little  enchanted  honse.  She 
stepped  in  and  found  a  youth  who,  marveling  at  her  beauty, 
at  the  royal  robes  she  wore,  and  at  the  golden  star  on  her 
forehead,  asked  her  where  she  came  from  and  whither  she 
was  going. 

"1  am  a  princess,"  she  answered,  "and  am  seeking  for 
my  twelve  brothers.  I  mean  to  wander  as  far  as  the  blue 
sky  stretches  over  the  earth  till  I  find  them." 

Then  she  showed  him  the  twelve  shirts  which  she  had 
taken  with  her,  and  Benjamin  saw  that  it  must  be  his 
sister,  and  said: 

"I  am  Benjamin,  your  youngest  brother." 

So  they  wept  for  joy,  and  kissed  and  hugged  each  other 
again  and  again.     After  a  time  Benjamin  said: 

"Dear  sister,  there  is  still  a  little  difficulty,  for  we  had 
all  agreed  that  any  girl  we  met  should  die  at  our  hands, 
because  it  was  for  the  sake  of  a  girl  that  we  had  to  leave 
our  kingdom." 

"  But,"  she  said,  "  I  will  gladly  die  if  by  that  means  I  can 
restore  my  twelve  brothers  to  their  own." 

"No,"  he  answered,  "there  is  no  need  for  that;  only  go 
and  hide  under  that  tub  till  our  eleven  brothers  come  in, 
and  I'll  soon  make  matters  right?  with  them." 

She  did  as  she  was  bid,  and  soon  the  others  came  home 
from  the  chase  and  sat  down  to  supper. 

"Well,  Benjamin,  what's  the  news?"  they  asked. 

But  he  replied:  "I  like  that;  have  you  nothing  to  tell 
me?" 

"No,"  they  answered. 

Then  he  said :  "  Well,  now,  you've  been  out  in  the  wood  all 
the  day  and  I've  stayed  quietly  at  home,  and  all  the  same 
I  know  more  than  you  do." 

"Then  tell  us,"  they  cried. 

But  he  answered :  "  Only  on  condition  that  yon  promise 
faithfully  that  the  first  girl  we  meet  shall  not  be  killed." 

"  She  shall  be  spared,"  they  promised,  "  only  tell  us  the 
news." 


280 


THE    RED    FAIRY    BOOK. 


Then  Benjamin  said:  "Our  sister  is  here!"  and  he 
lifted  up  the  tub  and  the  princess  stepped  forward,  with 
her  royal  robes  and  with  the  golden  star  on  her  forehead, 
looking  so  lovely  and  sweet  and  charming  that  they  all  fell 
in  love  with  her  on  the  spot. 

They  arranged  that  she  should  stay  at  home  with  Benja- 
min and  help  him  in  the  housework,  while  the  rest  of  the 


brothers  went  out  into  the  wood  and  shot  hares  and  roe- 
deer,  birds  and  wood-pigeons.  And  Benjamin  and  bis  sis- 
ter cooked  their  meals  for  them.  She  gathered  herbs  to 
cook  the  vegetables  in,  fetched  the  wood,  and  watched  the 
pots  on  the  fire,  and  always  when  her  eleven  brothers  re- 
turned she  had  their  supper  ready  for  them.  Besides  this, 
she  kept  the  house  in  order,  tidied  all  the  rooms,  and  made 
herself  so  generally  useful  that  her  brothers  were  delighted, 
and  they  all  lived  happily  together. 

One  day  the  two  at  home  prepared  a  fine  feast,  &r*A  when 


THE    RED    FAIKY    BOOK. 


281 


they  were  all  assembled  they  sat  down  and  ate  and  drank 
and  made  merry. 

Now  there  was  a  little  garden  round  the  enchanted  house, 
in  which  grew  twelve  tall  lilies.  The  girl,  wishing  to  please 
her  brothers,  plucked  the  twelve  flowers,  meaning  to  present 
one  to  each  of  them  as  they  sat  at  supper.  But  harolly  had 
she  plucked  the  flowers  when  her  brothers  were  turned' into 


twelve  ravens,  who  flew  croaking  over  the  wood,  and  the 
house  and  garden  vanished  also. 

So  the  poor  girl  found  herself  left  all  alone  in  the  wood, 
and  as  she  looked  around  her  she  noticed  an  old  woman 
standing  close  beside  her,  who  said : 


282  THE  BED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

"My  child,  what  have  you  done?  Why  didn't  you  leave 
the  flowers  alone?  They  were  your  twelve  brothers.  Now 
they  are  changed  forever  into  ravens." 

The  girl  asked,  sobbing:  "Is  there  no  means  of  setting 
them  free  ? " 

"  ~No"  said  the  old  woman,  "  there  is  only  one  way  in 
the  whole  world,  and  that  is  so  difficult  that  you  won't  free 
them  by  it,  for  you  would  have  to  be  dumb  and  not  laugh  for 
seven  years,  and  if  you  spoke  a  single  word,  though  but  an 
hour  were  wanting  to  the  time,  your  silence  would  all  have 
been  in  vain,  and  that  one  word  would  slay  your  brothers." 
Then  the  girl  said  to  herself:  "If  that  is  all  I  am  quite 
sure  I  can  free  my  brothers."  So  she  searched  for  a  high 
tree,  and  when  she  found  one  she  climbed  up  it  and  spun  all 
day  long,  never  laughing  nor  speaking  one  word. 

Now  it  happened  one  day  that  a  king  who  was  hunting 
in  the  wood  had  a  large  greyhound,  who  ran  sniffing  to  the 
tree  on  which  the  girl  sat,  and  jumped  round  it,  yelping  and 
barking  furiously.  The  king's  attention  was  attracted,  and 
when  he  looked  up  and  beheld  the  beautiful  princess  with 
the  golden  star  on  her  forehead,  he  was  so  enchanted  by  her 
beauty  that  he  asked  her  on  the  spot  to  be  his  wife.  She 
gave  no  answer,  but  nodded  slightly  with  her  head.  Then 
he  climbed  up  the  tree  himself,  lifted  her  down,  put  her  on 
his  horse,  and  bore  her  home  to  his  palace. 

The  marriage  was  celebrated  with  much  pomp  and  cere- 
mony, but  the  bride  neither  spoke  nor  laughed. 

When  they  had  lived  a  few  years  happily  together,  the 
king's  mother,  who  was  a  wicked  old  woman,  began  to  slander 
the  young  queen,  and  said  to  the  king : 

"  She  is  only  a  low-born  beggar  maid  that  you  have  mar- 
ried; who  knows  what  mischief  she  is  up  to?  If  she  is 
deaf  and  can't  speak,  she  might  at  least  laugh;  depend  upon 
it,  those  who  don't  laugh  have  a  bad  conscience." 

At  first  the  king  paid  no  heed  to  her  words,  but  the  old 
woman  harped  so  long  on  the  subject,  and  accused  the  young 
queen  of  so  many  bad  things,  that  at  last  he  let  himself  be 
talked  over,  and  condemned  his  beautiful  wife  to  death. 

So  a  great  fire  was  lit  in  the  court-yard  of  the  palace, 
where  she  was  to  be  burned,  and  the  king  watched  the  pro- 
ceedings from  an  upper  window,  crying  bitterly  the  while, 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  283 

for  he  still  loved  his  wife  dearly.  But  just  as  she  had  been 
bound  to  the  stake,  and  the  flames  were  licking  her  garments 
with  their  red  tongues,  the  very  last  moment  of  the  seven 
years  had  come.  Then  a  sudden  rushing  sound  was  heard  in 
the  air,  and  twelve  ravens  were  seen  flying  overhead.  They 
swooped  downward,  and  as  soon  as  they  touched  the  jround 
they  turned  into  her  twelve  brothers,  and  she  knew  that  she 
had  freed  them. 

They  quenched  the  flames  and  put  out  the  fire,  and,  un- 
binding their  dear  sister  from  the  stake,  they  kissed  and 
hugged  her  again  and  again.  And  now  that  she  was  able 
to  open  her  mouth  and  speak,  she  told  the  king  why  she  had 
been  dumb  and  not  able  to  laugh. 

The  king  rejoiced  greatly  when  he  heard  she  was  inno- 
cent, and  they  all  lived  happily  ever  afterward. 


KAPUNZEL* 

Once  upon  a  time  there  lived  <t  man  and  his  wife  who 
were  very  unhappy  because  they  had  no  children.  These 
good  people  had  a  little  window  at  the  back  of  their  house, 
which  looked  into  the  most  lovely  garden,  full  of  all  manner 
of  beautiful  flowers  an  vegetables ;  but  the  garden  was  sur- 
rounded by  a  high  wall,  and  no  one  dared  to  enter  it,  for 
it  belonged  to  a  witch  of  great  power,  who  was  feared  by  the 
whole  world.  One  day  the  woman  stood  at  the  window 
overlooking  the  garden,  and  saw  there  a  bed  full  of  the 
finest  rampion :  the  leaves  looked  so  fresh  and  green  that  she 
longed  to  eat  them.  The  desire  grew  day  by  day,  and  just 
because  she  knew  she  couldn't  possibly  get  any,  she  pined 
away  and  became  quite  pale  and  wretched.  Then  her  hus- 
band grew  alarmed  and  said : 

"  What  ails  you,  dear  wife  ?  " 

"  Oh,"  she  answered,  "  if  I  don't  get  some  rampion  to 
eat  out  of  the  garden  behind  the  house,  I  know  I  shall  die." 

The   man,    who    loved    her    dearly,    thought    to    himself: 

"  Come !  rather  than  let  your  wife  die  you  shall  fetch  her 

some  rampion,  no  matter  what  the  cost."     So  at  dusk  he 

climbed  over  the  wall  into  the  witch's  garden,  and,  hastily 

*  Grimm. 


284  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

gathering  a  handful  of  rampion  leaves,  he  returned  with 
them  to  his  wife.  She  made  them  into  a  salad,  which  tasted 
so  good  that  her  longing  for  the  forbidden  food  was  greater 
than  ever.  If  she  were  to  know  any  peace  of  mind,  there 
was  nothing  for  it  but  that  her  husband  should  climb  over 
the  garden  wall  again,  and  fetch  her  some  more.  So  at  dusk 
over  he  got,  but  when  he  reached  the  other  side  he  drew  back 
in  terror,  for  there,  standing  before  him,  was  the  old  witch. 

"  How  dare  you,"  she  said,  with  a  wrathful  glance,  "  climb 
into  my  garden  and  steal  my  rampion  like  a  common  thief  ? 
You  shall  suffer  for  your  foolhardiness." 

"  Oh !  "  he  implored,  "  pardon  my  presumption ;  neces- 
sity alone  drove  me  to  the  deed.  My  wife  saw  your  rampion 
from  her  window,  and  conceived  such  a  desire  for  it  that 
she  would  certainly  have  died  if  her  wish  had  not  been 
gratified."  Then  the  witch's  anger  was  a  little  appeased, 
and  she  said: 

"  If  it's  as  you  say,  you  may  take  as  much  rampion  away 
with  you  as  you  like,  but  on  one  condition  only — that  you 
give  me  the  child  your  wife  will  shortly  bring  into  the 
world.  All  shall  go  well  with  it,  and  I  will  look  after  it  like 
a  mother." 

The  man  in  his  terror  agreed  to  everything  she  asked, 
and  as  soon  as  the  child  was  born  the  witch  appeared,  and 
having  given  it  the  name  of  Rapunzel,  which  is  the  same 
as  rampion,  she  carried  it  off  with  her. 

Rapunzel  was  the  most  beautiful  child  under  the  sun. 
When  she  was  twelve  years  old  the  witch  shut  her  up  in  a 
tower,  in  the  middle  of  a  great  wood,  and  the  tower  had 
neither  stairs  nor  doors,  only  high  up  at  the  very  top  a 
small  window.  When  the  old  witch  wanted  to  get  in  she 
stood  underneath  and  called  out : 

"  Rapunzel,  Eapunzel, 
Let  down  your  golden  hair," 

for  Rapunzel  had  wonderful  long  hair,  and  it  was  as  fine  as 
spun  gold.  Whenever  she  heard  the  witch's  voice  she  un- 
loosed her  plaits,  and  let  her  hair  fall  down  out  of  the  win- 
dow about  twenty  yards  below,  and  the  old  witch  climbed  up 
by  it. 

After  they  had  lived  like  this  for  a  few  years,  it  happened 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  285 

one  day  that  a  prince  was  riding  through  the  wood  and 
passed  by  the  tower.  As  he  drew  near  it  he  heard  someone 
singing  so  sweetly  that  he  stood  still  spell-bound  and  listened. 
It  was  Rapunzel  in  her  loneliness  trying  to  while  away  the 
time  by  letting  her  sweet  voice  ring  out  into  the  wood.  The 
prince  longed  to  see  the  owner  of  the  voice,  but  he  sought 
in  vain  for  a  door  in  the  tower.  He  rode  home,  but  he  was  so 
haunted  by  the  song  he  had  heard  that  he  returned  every 
day  in  the  wood  and  listened.  One  day,  when  he  was  stand- 
ing thus  behind  a  tree,  he  saw  the  old  witch  approach  and 
heard  her  call  out: 

"  Rapunzel,  Rapunzel, 
Let  down  your  golden  hair," 

Then  Rapunzel  let  down  her  plaits,  and  the  witch  climbed 
up  by  them. 

"  So  that's  the  staircase,  is  it  ? "  said  the  prince.  "  Then 
I  too  will  climb  it  and  try  my  luck." 

So  on  the  following  day,  at  dusk,  he  went  to  the  foot  of 
the  tower  and  cried : 

"  Rapunzel,  Rapunzel, 
Let  down  your  golden  hair," 

and  as  soon  as  she  had  let  it  down  the  prince  climbed  up. 

At  first  Rapunzel  was  terribly  frightened  when  a  man 
came  in,  for  she  had  never  seen  one  before;  but  the  prince 
spoke  to  her  so  kindly,  and  told  her  at  once  that  his  heart 
had  been  so  touched  by  her  singing,  that  he  felt  he  should 
know  no  peace  of  mind  till  he  had  seen  her.  Very  soon 
Rapunzel  forgot  her  fear,  and  when  he  asked  her  to  marry 
him  she  consented  at  once.  "  For,"  she  thought,  "  he  is 
young  and  handsome,  and  I'll  certainly  be  happier  with 
him  than  the  old  witch."  So  she  put  her  hand  in  his 
and  said: 

"Yes,  I  will  gladly  go  with  you,  only  how  am  I  to  get 
down  out  of  the  tower?  Every  time  you  come  to  see  me 
you  must  bring  a  skein  of  silk  with  you,  and  I  will  make 
a  ladder  of  them,  and  when  it  is  finished  I  will  climb  down 
by  it,  and  you  will  take  me  away  on  your  horse." 

They  arranged  that,  till  the  ladder  was  ready,  he  was  to 
come  to  her  every  evening,  because  the  old  woman  was  with 
her  during  the  day.    The  old  witch,  of  course,  knew  nothing 


286  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

of  what  was  going  on,  till  one  day  Rapunzel,  not  thinking 
of  what  she  was  about,  turned  to  the  witch  and  said : 

"  How  is  it,  good  mother,  that  you  are  so  much  harder  to 
pull  up  than  the  young  prince?  He  is  always  with  me  in 
a  moment." 

"  Oh !  you  wicked  child,"  cried  the  witch.  "  What  is  this 
I  hear?  I  thought  I  had  hidden  you  safely  from  the  whole 
world,  and  in  spite  of  it  you  have  managed  to  deceive  me." 

In  her  wrath  she  seized  Rapunzel's  beautiful  hair,  wound 
it  round  and  round  her  left  hand,  and  then  grasping  a  pair 
of  scissors  in  her  right,  snip  snap,  off  it  came,  and  the  beau- 
tiful plaits  lay  on  the  ground.  And,  worse  than  this,  she 
was  so  hard-hearted  that  she  took  Rapunzel  to  a  lonely 
desert  place,  and  there  left  her  to  live  in  loneliness  and 
misery. 

But  on  the  evening  of  the  day  in  which  she  had  driven 
poor  Rapunzel  away,  the  witch  fastened  the  plaits  on  to  a 
hook  in  the  window,  and  when  the  prince  came  and  called 
out: 

"  Rapunzel,  Rapunzel, 
Let  down  your  golden  hair," 

she  let  them  down,  and  the  prince  climbed  up  as  usual,  but 
instead  of  his  beloved  Rapunzel  he  found  the  old  witch, 
who  fixed  her  evil,  glittering  eyes  on  him,  and  cried  mock- 
ingly : 

"  Ah,  ah !  you  thought  to  find  your  lady-love,  but  the 
pretty  bird  has  flown  and  its  song  is  dumb;  the  cat  caught 
it,  and  will  scratch  out  your  eyes  too.  Rapunzel  is  lost  to 
you  forever — you  will  never  see  her  more." 

The  prince  was  beside  himself  with  grief,  and  in  his  de- 
spair he  jumped  right  down  from  the  tower,  and,  though 
he  escaped  with  his  life,  the  thorns  among  which  he  fell 
pierced  his  eyes  out.  Then  he  wandered,  blind  and  miser- 
able, through  the  wood,  eating  nothing  but  roots  and  ber- 
ries, and  weeping  and  lamenting  the  loss  of  his  lovely  bride. 
So  he  wandered  about  for  some  years,  as  wretched  and  un- 
happy as  he  could  well  be,  and  at  last  he  came  to  the  desert 
place  where  Rapunzel  was  living.  Of  a  sudden  he  heard  a 
voice  which  seemed  strangely  familiar  to  him.  He  walked 
eagerly  in  the  direction  of  the  sound,  and  when  he  was 
quite  close,  Rapunzel  recognized  him  and  fell  on  his  neck 


THE  BED  FAIRY  BOOK.  287 

and  wept.  But  two  of  her  tears  touched  his  eyes,  and  in  a 
moment  they  became  quite  clear  again,  and  he  saw  as  well 
as  he  had  ever  done.  Then  he  led  her  to  his  kingdom,  where 
they  were  received  and  welcomed  with  great  joy,  and  they 
lived  happily  ever  after. 


THE   NETTLE    SPINNER* 
I. 

Once  upon  a  time  there  lived  at  Quesnoy,  in  Flanders, 
a  great  lord  whose  name  was  Burchard,  but  whom  the 
country  people  called  Burchard  the  Wolf.  Now  Burchard 
had  such  a  wicked,  cruel  heart  that  it  was  whispered  how 
he  used  to  harness  his  peasants  to  the  plow,  and  force  them 
by  blows  from  his  whip  to  till  his  land  with  naked  feet. 

His  wife,  on  the  other  hand,  was  always  tender  and  pitiful 
to  the  poor  and  miserable. 

Every  time  that  she  heard  of  another  misdeed  of  her 
husband's  she  secretly  went  to  repair  the  evil,  which  caused 
her  name  to  be  blessed  throughout  the  whole  country  side. 
This  countess  was  adored  as  much  as  the  count  was  hated. 

n. 

One  beautiful  day  when  the  count  was  out  hunting  he 
passed  through  a  forest,  and  at  the  door  of  a  beautiful  cot- 
tage he  saw  a  beautiful  girl  spinning  hemp. 

"What  is  your  name?"  he  asked  her. 

"Renelde,  my  lord." 

"  You  must  get  tired  of  staying  in  such  a  lonely  place  ? " 

"I  am  accustomed  to  it,  my  lord,  and  I  never  get  tired 
of  it." 

"  That  may  be  so ;  but  come  to  the  castle,  and  I  will  make 
you  lady's-maid  to  the  countess." 

"I  cannot  do  that,  my  lord.  I  have  to  look  after  my 
grandmother,  who  is  very  helpless." 

"  Come  to  the  castle,  I  tell  you.    I  shall  expect  you  this 
©vening,"  and  he  went  on  his  way. 
*  Ch.  Deulin. 


288 


THE    RED    FAIRY    BOOK. 


But  Renelde,  who  was  betrothed  to  a  young  wood-cutter 
called  Guilbert,  had  no  intention  of  obeying  the  count,  and 
she  had,  besides,  to  take  care  of  her  grandmother. 

Three  days  later  the  count  again  passed  by. 

"  Why  didn't  you  come  ? "  he  asked  the  pretty  spinner. 


"  I  told  you,  my  lord,  that  I  have  to  look  after  my  grand- 
mother." 

"  Come  to-morrow,  and  I  will  make  you  lady-in-waiting 
to  the  countess,"  and  he  went  on  his  way. 

This  offer  produced  no  more  effect  than  the  other,  and 
Renelde  did  not  go  to  the  castle. 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  289 

"  If  you  will  only  come,"  said  the  count  to  her  when  next 
he  rode  by,  "  I  will  send  away  the  countess,  and  will  marry 
you." 

But  two  years  before,  when  Renelde's  mother  was  dying 
of  a  long  illness,  the  countess  had  not  forgotten  them,  but 
had  given  help  when  they  sorely  needed  it.  So  even  if 
the  count  had  really  wished  to  marry  Kenelde,  she  would 
always  have  refused. 


in. 

Some  weeks  pased  before  Burchard  appeared  again. 

Renelde  hoped  she  had  got  rid  of  him,  when  one  day  he 
stopped  at  the  door,  his  duck-gun  under  his  arm  and  his 
game-bag  on  his  shoulder.  This  time  Renelde  was  spinning 
not  hemp,  but  flax. 

"  What  are  you  spinning  ?  "  he  asked  in  a  rough  voice. 

"  My  wedding-shift,  my  lord." 

"  You  are  going  to  be  married,  then  ?  " 

"Yes,  my  lord,  by  your  leave." 

For  at  that  time  no  peasant  could  marry  without  the 
leave  of  his  master. 

"I  will  give  you  leave  on  one  condition.  Do  you  see 
those  tall  nettles  that  grow  on  the  tomb  in  the  church- 
yard? Go  gather  them  and  spin  them  into  two  fine  shifts. 
One  shall  be  your  bridal  shift,  and  the  other  shall  be  my 
shroud.  For  you  shall  be  married  the  day  that  I  am  laid 
in  my  grava"  And  the  count  turned  away  with  a  mocking 
laugh. 

Renelde  trembled.  Never  in  all  Locquignol  had  such  a 
thing  been  heard  of  as  the  spinning  of  nettles. 

And  besides,  the  count  seemed  made  of  iron  and  was 
very  proud  of  his  strength,  often  boasting  that  he  should 
live  to  be  a  hundred. 

Every  evening,  when  his  work  was  done,  Guilbert  came 
to  visit  his  future  bride.  This  evening  he  came  as  usual, 
and  Renelde  told  him  what  Burchard  had  said. 

"Would  you  like  me  to  watch  for  the  Wolf,  and  split 
his  skull  with  a  blow  from  my  ax  ?  " 

"No,"   replied   Renelde,   "there   must   be  no   blood   on 


290  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

my  bridal  bouquet.  And  then  we  must  not  hurt  the  count. 
Remember  how  good  the  countess  was  to  my  mother." 

An  old,  old  woman  now  spoke:  she  was  the  mother  of 
Benelde's  grandmother,  and  was  more  than  ninety  years 
old.  All  day  long  she  sat  in  her  chair  nodding  her  head  and 
never  saying  a  word. 

"  My  children,"  she  said,  "  all  the  years  that  I  have  lived 
in  the  world,  I  have  never  heard  of  a  shift  spun  from  nettles. 
But  what  God  commands,  man  can  do.  Why  should  not 
Eenelde  try  it?" 

IV. 

Eenelde  did  try,  and  to  her  great  surprise  the  nettles 
when  crushed  and  prepared  gave  a  good  thread,  soft  and  light 
and  firm.  Very  soon  she  had  spun  the  first  shift,  which  was 
for  her  own  wedding.  She  wove  and  cut  it  out  at  once,  hop- 
ing that  the  count  would  not  force  her  to  begin  the  other. 
Just  as  she  had  finished  sewing  it,  Burchard  the  Wolf 
passed  by. 

"  Well,"  said  he,  "  how  are  the  shifts  getting  on  ?  " 

"  Here,  my  lord,  is  my  wedding-garment,"  answered 
Eenelde,  showing  him  the  shift,  which  was  the  finest  and 
whitest  ever  seen. 

The  count  grew  pale,  but  he  replied  roughly :  "  Very  good. 
Now  begin  the  other." 

The  spinner  set  to  work.  As  the  count  returned  to  the 
castle  a  cold  shiver  passed  over  him,  and  he  felt,  as  the 
saying  is,  that  someone  was  walking  over  his  grave.  He 
tried  to  eat  his  supper,  but  could  not;  he  went  to  bed  shak- 
ing with  fever.  But  he  did  not  sleep,  and  in  the  morning 
could  not  manage  to  rise. 

This  sudden  illness,  which  every  instant  became  worse, 
made  him  very  uneasy.  No  doubt  Benelde's  spinning-wheel 
knew  all  about  it.  Was  it  not  necessary  that  his  body,  as 
well  as  his  shroud,  should  be  ready  for  his  burial? 

The  first  thing  Burchard  did  was  to  send  to  Eenelde  and 
to  stop  her  wheel. 

Eenelde  obeyed,  and  that  evening  Guilbert  asked  her : 

"  Has  the  count  given  his  consent  to  our  marriage  ?  " 

"  No,"  said  Eenelde. 


THE    RED    FAIRY   BOOK. 


291 


•  u  Continue  your  work,  sweetheart.    It  is  the  only  way  of 
gaining  it.    You  know  he  told  you.  so  himself." 


The  following  morning,  as  soon  as  she  had  put  the  house 
in  order,  the  girl  sat  down  to  spin.  Two  hours  after  there 
arrived  some  soldiers,  and  when  they  saw  her  spinning  they 
seized  her,  tied  her  arms  and  legs,  and  carried  her  to  the 
bank  of  the.  river,  which  was  swollen  by  the  late  rains. 

When  they  reached  the  bank  they  flung  her  in,  and  watched 


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her  sink,  after  which  they  left  her.  But  Eenelde  rose  to  the 
surface,  and  though  she  could  not  swim  she  struggled  to 
land. 

Directly  she  got  home  she  sat  down  and  began  to  spin. 

Again  came  the  two  soldiers  to  the  cottage  and  seized 
the  girl,  carried  her  to  the  river  bank,  tied  a  stone  to  her 
neck,  and  flung  her  into  the  water. 

The  moment  their  backs  were  turned  the  stone  untied 
itself.  Eenelde  waded  the  ford,  returned  to  the  hut,  and 
sat  down  to  spin. 


292  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

This  time  the  count  resolved  to  go  to  Locquignol  him- 
self;  but,  as  he  was  very  weak  and  unable  to  walk,  he  had 
himself  borne  in  a  litter.    And  still  the  spinner  spun. 

When  he  saw  her  he  fired  a  shot  at  her,  as  he  would  have 
fired  at  a  wild  beast.  The  bullet  rebounded  without  harm- 
ing the  spinner,  who  still  spun  on. 

Burchard  fell  into  such  a  violent  rage  that  it  nearly 
killed  him.  He  broke  the  wheel  into  a  thousand  pieces, 
and  then  fell  fainting  on  the  ground.  He  was  carried  back 
to  the  castle,  unconscious. 

The  next  day  the  wheel  was  mended,  and  the  spinner  sat 
down  to  spin.  Feeling  that  while  she  was  spinning  he 
was  dying,  the  count  ordered  that  her  hands  should  be  tied, 
and  that  they  should  not  lose  sight  of  her  one  instant. 

But  the  guards  fell  asleep,  the  bonds  loosed  themselves, 
and  the  spinner  spun  on. 

Burchard  had  every  nettle  rooted  up  for  three  leagues 
round.  Scarcely  had  they  been  torn  from  the  soil  when 
they  sowed  themselves  afresh,  and  grew  as  you  were  looking 
at  them. 

They  sprang  up  even  in  the  well-trodden  floor  of  the  cot- 
tage, and  as  fast  as  they  were  uprooted  the  distaff  gathered 
to  itself  a  supply  of  nettles,  crushed,  prepared,  and  ready 
for  spinning. 

And  every  day  Burchard  grew  worse,  and  watched  his 
end  approaching. 

VI. 

Moved  by  pity  for  her  husband,  the  countess  at  last  found 
out  the  cause  of  his  illness,  and  entreated  him  to  allow  him- 
self to  be  cured.  But  the  count  in  his  pride  refused  more 
than  ever  to  give  his  consent  to  the  marriage. 

So  the  lady  resolved  to  go  without  his  knowledge  to  pray 
for  mercy  from  the  spinner,  and  in  the  name  of  Renelde's 
dead  mother,  she  besought  her  to  spin  no  more.  Renelde 
gave  her  promise,  but  in  the  evening  Guilbert  arrived  at  the 
cottage.  Seeing  that  the  cloth  was  no  further  advanced 
than  it  was  the  evening  before,  he  inquired  the  reason. 
Renelde  confessed  that  the  countess  had  prayed  her  not  to 
let  her  husband  die. 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  293 

*  Will  lie  consent  to  our  marriage  ?  " 

"No." 

"Let  him  die,  then." 

"  But  what  will  the  countess  say  ?  " 

"  The  countess  will  understand  that  it  is  not  your  fault ; 
the  count  alone  is  guilty  of  his  own  death." 

"  Let  us  wait  a  little.    Perhaps  his  heart  may  be  softened." 

So  they  waited  for  one  month,  for  two,  for  six,  for  a 
year.  The  spinner  spun  no  more.  The  count  had  ceased 
to  persecute  her,  but  he  still  refused  his  consent  to  the  mar- 
riage.   Guilbert  became  impatient. 

The  poor  girl  loved  him  with  her  whole  soul,  and  she  was 
more  unhappy  than  she  had  been  before,  when  Burchard  was 
only  tormenting  her  body. 

"  Let  us  have  done  with  it,"  said  Guilbert. 

"  Wait  a  little  still,"  pleaded  Eenelde. 

But  the  young  man  grew  weary.  He  came  more  rarely 
to  Locquignol,  and  very  soon  he  did  not  come  at  all.  Eenelde 
felt  as  if  her  heart  would  break,  but  she  held  firm. 

One  day  she  met  the  count.  She  clasped  her  hands  as 
if  in  prayer,  and  cried: 

"  My  lord,  have  mercy !  " 

Burchard  the  Wolf  turned  away  his  head  and  passed  on. 

She  might  have  humbled  his  pride  had  she  gone  to  her 
spinning-wheel  again,  but  she  did  nothing  of  the  sort. 

Not  long  after  this  she  learned  that  Guilbert  had  left  the 
country.  He  did  not  even  come  to  say  good-by  to  her, 
but,  all  the  same,  she  knew  the  day  and  hour  of  his  de- 
parture, and  hid  herself  on  the  road  to  see  him  once  more. 

When  she  came  in  she  put  her  silent  wheel  into  a  corner 
and  cried  for  three  days  and  three  nights. 


VII. 


So  another  year  went  by.  Then  the  count  fell  ill,  and  the 
countess  supposed  that  Eenelde,  weary  of  waiting,  had  be- 
gun her  spinning  anew;  but  when  she  came  to  the  cottage 
to  see,  she  found  the  wheel  silent. 

However,  the  count  grew  worse  and  worse  till  he  was 
given  up  by  the  doctors.    The  passing  bell  was  rung,  and  he 


294  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

lay  expecting  death  to  come  for  him.  But  death  was  not  so 
near  as  the  doctors  thought,  and  still  he  lingered. 

He  seemed  in  a  desperate  condition,  but  he  got  neither 
better  nor  worse.  He  could  neither  live  nor  die;  he  suffered 
horribly,  and  called  loudly  on  death  to  put  an  end  to  his 
pains. 

In  this  extremity  he  remembered  what  he  had  told  the 
little  spinner  long  ago.  If  death  was  so  slow  in  coming,  it 
was  because  he  was  not  ready  to  follow  him,  having  no 
shroud  for  his  burial. 

He  sent  to  fetch  Renelde,  placed  her  by  his  bedside,  and 
ordered  her  at  once  to  go  on  spinning  his  shroud. 

Hardly  had  the  spinner  begun  to  work  when  the  count 
began  to  feel  his  pains  grow  less. 

Then  at  last  his  heart  melted;  he  was  sorry  for  all  the 
evil  he  had  done  out  of  pride,  and  implored  Renelde  to  for- 
give him.  So  Renelde  forgave  him,  and  went  on  spinning 
night  and  day. 

"When  the  thread  of  the  nettles  was  spun  she  wove  it  with 
her  shuttle,  and  then  she  cut  the  shroud  and  began  to  sew  it. 

And  as  before,  when  she  sewed  the  count  felt  his  pains 
grow  less,  and  the  life  sinking  within  him,  and  when  the 
needle  made  the  last  stitch  he  gave  his  last  sigh. 

VIII. 

At  the  same  hour  Guilbert  returned  to  the  country,  and, 
as  he  had  never  ceased  to  love  Renelde,  he  married  her  eight 
days  later. 

He  had  lost  two  years  of  happiness,  but  comforted  him- 
self with  thinking  that  his  wife  was  a  clever  spinner,  and 
what  was  much  more  rare,  a  brave  and  good  woman. 


FARMER  WEATHERBEARD* 

There  were  once  upon  a  time  a  man  and  a  woman  who 
had   an  only   son,   and  he  was   called    Jack.      The  woman 
thought  that  it  was  his  duty  to  go  out  to  service,  and  told 
her  husband  that  he  was  to  take  him  somewhere. 
*From  P.  C.  AsbjornRen. 


THE    RED    FAIRY   BOOK. 


295 


<{  You  must  get  him  such,  a  good  place  that  he  will  be- 
come master  of  all  masters,"  she  said,  and  then  she  put  some 
food  and  a  roll  of  tobacco  into  a  bag  for  them. 

Well,  they  went  to  a  great  many  masters,  but  all  said 
that  they  could  make  the  lad  as  good  as  they  were  them- 
selves, but  better  than  that  they  could  not  make  him.  When 
the  man  came  home  to  the  old  woman  with  this  answer, 
she  said :  "  I  shall  be  equally  well  pleased  whatever  you  do 
with  him;  but  this  I  do  say,  that  you  are  to  have  him  made 


a  master  over  all  masters."  Then  she  once  more  put  some 
food  and  a  roll  of  tobacco  into  the  bag,  and  the  man  and 
his  son  had  to  set  out  again. 

When  they  had  walked  some  distance  they  got  upon  the 
ice,  and  there  they  met  a  man  in  a  carriage  who  was  driving 
a  black  horse. 

"  Where  are  you  going  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  I  have  to  go  and  get  my  son  apprenticed  to  someone  who 
will  be  able  to  teach  him  a  trade,  for  my  old  woman  comes 
of  such  well-to-do  folk  that  she  insists  on  his  being  taught 
to  be  master  of  all  masters,"  said  the  man. 

"We  are  not  ill  met,  then,"  said  the  man  who  was  driv- 


296  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

ing,  "for  I  am  the  kind  of  a  man  who  can  do  that,  and  I 
am  just  looking  out  for  such  an  apprentice.  Get  up  be- 
hind with  you,"  he  said  to  the  boy,  and  off  the  horse  went 
with  him  straight  up  into  the  air. 

"  No,  no,  wait  a  little ! "  screamed  the  father  of  the  boy. 
"  I  ought  to  know  what  your  name  is  and  where  you  live." 

"  Oh,  I  am  at  home  both  in  the  north  and  the  south  and 
the  east  and  the  west,  and  I  am  called  Farmer  Weather- 
beard,"  said  the  master.  "You  may  come  here  again  in  a 
year's  time,  and  then  I  will  tell  you  if  the  lad  suits  me." 
And  then  they  set  off  again  and  were  gone. 

When  the  man  got  home  the  old  woman  inquired  what 
had  become  of  her  son. 

"  Ah !  Heaven  only  knows  what  has  become  of  him ! " 
said  the  man.  "  They  went  up  aloft."  And  then  he  told 
her  what  had  happened. 

But  when  the  woman  heard  that,  and  found  that  the  man 
did  not  at  all  know  either  when  their  son  would  be  out  of  his 
apprenticeship,  or  where  he  had  gone,  she  packed  him  off 
again  to  find  out,  and  gave  him  a  bag  of  food  and  a  roll  of 
tobacco  to  take  with  him. 

When  he  had  walked  for  some  time  he  came  to  a  great 
wood,  and  it  stretched  before  him  all  day  long  as  he  went 
on,  and  when  night  began  to  fall  he  saw  a  great  light,  and 
went  toward  it.  After  a  long,  long  time  he  came  to  a  small 
hut  at  the  foot  of  a  rock,  outside  which  an  old  woman  was 
standing  drawing  water  up  from  a  well  with  her  nose,  it 
was  so  long. 

"  Good-evening,  mother,"  said  the  man. 

"  Good-evening  to  you  too,"  said  the  old  woman.  "  No 
one  has  called  me  mother  this  hundred  years." 

"  Can  I  lodge  here  to-night  ?  "  said  the  man. 

"No,"  said  the  old  woman.  But  the  man  took  out  his 
roll  of  tobacco,  lighted  it,  and  then  gave  her  a  whiff.  Then 
she  was  so  delighted  that  she  began  to  dance,  and  thus  the 
man  got  leave  to  stay  the  night  there.  It  was  not  long  before 
he  asked  about  Farmer  Weatherbeard. 

She  said  that  she  knew  nothing  about  him,  but  that  she 
ruled  over  all  the  four-footed  beasts,  and  some  of  them  might 
know  him.  So  she  gathered  them  all  together  by  blowing 
a  whistle  which  she  had,  and  questioned  them,  but  there  was 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  297 

not  one  of  them  which  knew  anything  about  Farmer  Weather- 
beard. 

"Well,"  said  the  old  woman,  "there  are  three  of  us  sis- 
ters; it  may  be  that  one  of  the  other  two  knows  where  he  is 
to  be  found.  You  shall  have  the  loan  of  my  horse  and  car- 
riage, and  then  you  will  get  there  by  night ;  but  her  house  is 
three  hundred  miles  off,  go  the  nearest  way  you  will." 

The  man  set  out  and  got  there  at  night.  When  he  ar- 
rived, this  old  woman  also  was  standing  drawing  water  out 
of  the  well  with  her  nose. 

"  Good-evening,  mother,"  said  the  man. 

"  Good-evening  to  you,"  said  the  old  woman.  "  No  one 
has  ever  called  me  mother  this  hundred  years." 

"  Can  I  lodge  here  to-night  ? "  said  the  man. 

"  No,"  said  the  old  woman. 

Then  he  took  out  the  roll  of  tobacco,  took  a  whiff,  and 
gave  the  old  woman  some  snuff  on  the  back  of  her  hand. 
Then  she  was  so  delighted  that  she  began  to  dance,  and 
the  man  got  leave  to  stay  all  night.  It  was  not  long  before  he 
began  to  ask  about  Farmer  Weatherbeard. 

She  knew  nothing  about  him,  but  she  ruled  over  all  the 
fishes,  she  said,  and  perhaps  some  of  them  might  know  some- 
thing. So  she  gathered  them  all  together  by  blowing  a 
whistle  which  she  had,  and  questioned  them,  but  there 
was  not  one  of  them  which  knew  anything  about  Farmer 
Weatherbeard. 

"Well,"  said  the  old  woman,  "I  have  another  sister; 
perhaps  she  may  know  something  about  him.  She  lives 
six  hundred  miles  off,  but  you  shall  have  my  horse  and  car- 
riage, and  then  you  will  get  there  by  nightfall." 

So  the  man  set  off  and  he  got  there  by  nightfall.  The 
old  woman  was  standing  raking  the  fire,  and  she  was  doing 
it  with  her  nose,  so  long  it  was. 

"  Good-evening,  mother,"  said  the  man. 

"  Good-evening  to  you,"  said  the  old  woman.  "  No  one 
has  called  me  mother  this  hundred  years." 

"  Can  I  lodge  here  to-night  ?  "  said  the  man. 

"No,"  said  the  old  woman.  But  the  man  pulled  out 
his  roll  of  tobacco  again,  and  filled  his  pipe  with  some  of  it, 
and  gave  the  old  woman  enough  snuff  to  cover  the  back  of 
her  hand.     Then  she  was  so  delighted  that  she  began  to 


298 


THE    EED    FAIRY    BOOK. 


dance,  and  the  man  got  leave  to  stay  in  her  house.  It  was 
not  long  before  he  asked  about  Farmer  Weatherbeard.  She 
knew  nothing  at  all  about  him,  she  said,  but  she  governed 
all  the  birds;  and  she  gathered  them  together  with  her  whis- 
tle. When  she  questioned  them  all  the  eagle  was  not  there, 
but  it  came  soon  afterward,  and  when  asked  it  said  that 
it  had  just  come  from  Farmer  Weatherbeard's.  Then  the 
old  woman  said  that  it  was  to  guide  the  man  to  him.  But 
the  eagle  would  have  something  to  eat  first,   and  then  it 


wanted  to  wait  until  the  next  day,  for  it  was  so  tired  with 
the  long  journey  that  it  was  scarcely  able  to  rise  from  the 
earth. 

When  the  eagle  had  had  plenty  of  food  and  rest,  the  old 
woman  plucked  a  feather  out  of  its  tail,  and  set  the  man  in 
the  feather's  place,  and  then  the  bird  flew  away  with  him, 
but  they  did  not  get  to  Farmer  Weatherbeard's  before  mid- 
night. 

When  they  got  there  the  eagle  said :  "  There  are  a  great 
many  dead  bodies  lying  outside  the  door,  but  you  must  not 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  299 

concern  yourself  about  them.  The  people,  who  are  inside 
the  house  are  all  so  sound  asleep  that  it  will  not  be  easy  to 
awake  them;  but  you  must  go  straight  to  the  table-drawer, 
and  take  out  three  bits  of  bread,  and  if  you  hear  anyone 
snoring,  pluck  three  feathers  from  his  head;  he  will  not 
waken  for  that." 

The  man  did  this;  when  he  had  got  the  bits  of  bread  he 
first  plucked  out  one  feather. 

"  Oof !  "  screamed  Farmer  Weatherbeard. 

So  the  man  plucked  out  another,  and  then  Farmer  Weather- 
beard  shrieked  "  Oof !  "  again ;  but  when  the  man  had  plucked 
the  third,  Farmer  Weatherbeard  screamed  so  that  the  man 
thought  that  brick  and  mortar  would  be  rent  in  twain,  but 
for  all  that  he  went  on  sleeping.  And  now  the  eagle  told  the 
man  what  he  was  to  do  next,  and  he  did  it.  He  went  to  the 
stable  door,  and  there  he  stumbled  against  a  hard  stone, 
which  he  picked  up,  and  beneath  it  lay  three  splinters  of 
wood,  which  he  also  picked  up.  He  knocked  at  the  stable 
door  and  it  opened  at  once.  He  threw  down  the  three  little 
bits  of  bread  and  a  hare  came  out  and  ate  them.  He  caught 
the  hare.  Then  the  eagle  told  him  to  pluck  three  feathers 
out  of  its  tail,  and  put  in  the  hare,  the  stone,  the  splinters 
of  wood  and  himself  instead  of  them,  and  then  he  would 
be  able  to  carry  them  all  home. 

When  the  eagle  had  flown  a  long  way  it  alighted  on  a 
stone. 

"  Do  you  see  anything  ?  "  it  asked. 

"  Yes ;  I  see  a  flock  of  crows  coming  flying  after  us,"  said 
the  man. 

"  Then  we  shall  do  well  to  fly  on  a  little  further,"  said  the 
eagle,  and  off  it  se<-. 

In  a  short  time  it  isked  again:  "Do  you  see  anything 
now?" 

"Yes;  now  the  crows  are  close  behind  us,"  said  the  man. 

"  Then  throw  down  the  three  feathers  which  you  plucked 
out  of  his  head,"  said  the  eagle. 

So  the  man  did  this,  and  no  sooner  had  he  flung  them 
down  than  the  feathers  became  a  flock  of  ravens,  which 
chased  the  crows  home  again.  Then  the  eagle  flew  on  much 
further  with  *J»e  man,  but  at  length  it  alighted  on  a  stone 
for  awhile. 


300  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

"  Do  you  see  anything  ?  "  it  said. 

"  I  am  not  quite  certain,"  said  the  man,  "  but  I  think  I 
see  something  coming  in  the  far  distance." 

"  Then  we  shall  do  well  to  fly  on  a  little  further,"  said 
the  eagle,  and  away  it  went. 

"Do  you  see  anything  now?"  it  said,  after  some  time 
had  gone  by. 

"  Yes ;  now  they  are  close  behind  us,"  said  the  man. 

"  Then  throw  down  the  splinters  of  wood  which  you  took 
from  beneath  the  gray  stone  by  the  stable  door,"  said  the 
eagle.  The  man  did  this,  and  no  sooner  had  he  flung  them 
down  than  they  grew  up  into  a  great  thick  wood,  and  Far- 
mer Weatherbeard  had  to  go  home  for  an  ax  to  cut  his  way 
through  it.  So  the  eagle  flew  on  a  long,  long  way,  but  then 
it  grew  tired  and  sat  down  on  a  fir  tree. 

"  Do  you  see  anything  ? "  it  asked. 

"  Yes ;  I  am  not  quite  certain,"  said  the  man,  "  but  I  think 
I  can  catch  a  glimpse  of  something  far,  far  away." 

"  Then  we  shall  do  well  to  fly  on  a  little  further,"  said 
the  eagle,  and  it  set  off  again. 

"  Do  you  see  anything  now  ? "  it  said  after  some  time  had 
gone  by. 

"  Yes ;  he  is  close  behind  us  now,"  said  the  man. 

"  Then  you  must  fling  down  the  great  stone  which  you 
took  away  from  the  stable  door,"  said  the  eagle. 

The  man  did  so,  and  it  turned  into  a  great  *high  mountain 
of  stone,  which  Farmer  Weatherbeard  had  to  break  his  way 
through  before  he  could  follow  them.  But  when  he  had  got 
to  the  middle  of  the  mountain  he  broke  one  of  his  legs,  so 
that  he  had  to  go  home  to  get  it  put  right. 

While  he  was  doing  this  the  eagle  flew  off  to  the  man's 
home  with  him,  and  with  the  hare,  and  when  they  had  got 
home  the  man  went  to  the  churchyard,  and  had  some  Chris- 
tian earth  laid  upon  the  hare,  and  then  it  turned  into  his  son 
Jack. 

When  the  time  came  for  the  fair  the  youth  turned  him- 
self into  a  light-colored  horse,  and  bade  his  father  go  to 
the  market  with  him.  "  If  anyone  should  come  who  wants 
to  buy  me,"  said  he,  "  you  are  to  tell  him  that  you  want  a 
hundred  dollars  for  me;  but  you  must  not  forget  to  take  off 
the  halter,  for  if  you  do  I  shall  never  be  able  to  get  away 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  301 

from  Farmer  Weatherbeard,  for  he  is  the  man  who  will  come 
and  bargain  for  me." 

And  thus  it  happened.  A  horse  dealer  came  who  had  a 
great  fancy  to  bargain  for  the  horse,  and  the  man  got  a  hun- 
dred dollars  for  it,  but  when  the  bargain  was  made,  and 
Jack's  father  had  got  the  money,  the  horse  dealer  warned 
to  have  the  halter. 

"  That  was  no  part  of  our  bargain,"  said  the  man,  "  and 
the  halter  you  shall  not  have,  for  I  have  other  horses  which 
I  shall  have  to  sell." 

So  each  of  them  went  his  way.  But  the  horse  dealer  had 
not  got  very  far  with  Jack  before  he  resumed  his  own 
form  again,  and  when  the  man  got  home  he  was  sitting 
on  the  bench  by  the  stove. 

The  next  day  he  changed  himself  into  a  brown  horse 
and  told  his  father  that  he  was  to  set  off  to  market  with 
him.  "If  a  man  should  come  who  wants  to  buy  me,"  said 
Jack,  "you  are  to  tell  him  that  you  want  two  hundred  dol- 
lars, for  that  he  will  give,  and  treat  you  besides;  but  what- 
soever you  drink,  and  whatsoever  you  do,  don't  forget  to  take 
the  halter  off  me,  or  you  will  never  see  me  more." 

And  thus  it  happened.  The  man  got  his  two  hundred  dol- 
lars for  the  horse,  and  was  treated  as  well,  and  when  they 
parted  from  each  other  it  was  just  as  much  as  he  could  do  to 
remember  to  take  off  the  halter.  But  the  buyer  had  not 
gone  far  on  his  way  before  the  youth  took  his  own  form 
again,  and  when  the  man  reached  home  Jack  was  already 
sitting  on  the  bench  by  the  stove. 

On  the  third  day  all  happened  in  the  same  way.  The 
youth  changed  himself  into  a  great  black  horse,  and  told 
his  father  that  if  a  man  came  and  offered  him  three  hun- 
dred dollars  and  treated  him  well  and  handsomely  into  the 
bargain,  he  was  to  sell  him,  but  whatsoever  he  did,  or  how 
much  soever  he  drank,  he  must  not  forget  to  take  off  the 
halter,  or  else  he  himself  would  never  get  away  from  Farmer 
Weatherbeard  as  long  as  he  lived. 

"  No,"  said  the  man,  "  I  will  not  forget." 

When  he  got  to  the  market,  he  received  the  three  hun- 
dred dollars,  but  Farmer  Weatherbeard  treated  him  so  hand- 
somely that  he  quite  forgot  to  take  off  the  halter;  so  Farmer 
Weatherbeard  went  away  with  the  horse. 


302 


THE    RED    FAIRY   BOOK. 


When  he  had  got  some  distance  he  had  to  go  into  an  inn 
to  get  some  more  brandy;  so  he  set  a  barrel  full  of  red- 
hot  nails  under  his  horse's  nose,  and  a  trough  filled  with 
oats  beneath  its  tail,  and  then  he  tied  the  halter  fast  to  a 
hook  and  went  away  into  the  inn.  So  the  horse  stood  there 
stamping  and  kicking,  and  snorting,  and  rearing,  and  out 
came  a  girl  who  thought  it  a  sin  and  a  shame  to  treat  a 
horse  so  ill. 

"  Ah,  poor  creature,  what  a  master  you  must  have  to  treat 
you  thus !  "  she  said,  and  pushed  the  halter  off  the  hook  so 
that  the  horse  might  turn  round  and  eat  the  oats. 

"  I  am  here !  "  shrieked  Farmer  Weatherbeard,  rushing  out 


of  doors.  But  the  horse  had  already  shaken  off  the  halter 
and  flung  himself  into  a  goose-pond,  where  he  changed  him- 
self into  a  little  fish.  Farmer  Weatherbeard  went  after  him, 
and  changed  himself  into  a  great  pike.  So  Jack  turned  him- 
self into  a  dove,  and  Farmer  Weatherbeard  turned  himself 
into  a  hawk,  and  flew  after  the  dove  and  struck  it.     But  a 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  303 

princess  was  standing  at  a  window  in  the  king's  palace 
watching  the  struggle. 

"  If  thou  didst  but  know  as  much  as  I  know,  thou  wouldst 
fly  in  to  me  through  the  window,"  said  the  princess  to  the 
dove. 

So  the  dove  came  flying  in  through  the  window  and 
changed  itself  into  Jack  again,  and  told  her  all  as  it  had 
happened. 

"  Change  thyself  into  a  gold  ring,  and  set  thyself  on  my 
finger,"  said  the  princess. 

"  No,  that  will  not  do,"  said  Jack,  "  for  then  Farmer 
Weatherbeard  will  make  the  king  fall  sick,  and  there  will 
be  no  one  who  can  make  him  well  again  before  Farmer 
Weatherbeard  comes  and  cures  him,  and  for  that  he  will  de- 
mand the  gold  ring." 

"  I  will  say  that  it  was  my  mother's,  and  that  I  will  not 
part  with  it,"  said  the  princess. 

So  Jack  changed  himself  into  a  gold  ring,  and  set  himself 
on  the  princess'  finger,  and  Farmer  Weatherbeard  could 
not  get  at  him  there.  But  then  all  that  the  youth  foretold 
came  to  pass. 

The  king  became  ill,  and  there  was  no  doctor  who  could 
cure  him  till  Farmer  Weatherbeard  arrived,  and  he  de- 
manded the  ring  which  was  on  the  princess'  finger  as  a 
reward. 

So  the  king  sent  a  messenger  to  the  princess  for  the  ring. 
She,  however,  refused  to  part  with  it,  because  she  had  in- 
herited it  from  her  mother.  When  the  king  was  informed 
of  this  he  fell  into  a  rage,  and  said  that  he  would  have  the 
ring,  let  her  have  inherited  it  from  whom  she  might. 

"Well,  it's  of  no  use  to  be  angry  about  it,"  said  the 
princess,  "  for  I  can't  get  it  off.  If  you  want  the  ring  you 
will  have  to  take  the  finger  too ! " 

"I  will  try,  and  then  the  ring  will  very  soon  come  off," 
said  Farmer  Weatherbeard. 

"No,  thank  you,  I  will  try  myself,"  said  the  princess, 
and  she  went  away  to  the  fireplace  and  put  some  ashes  on 
the  ring. 

So  the  ring  came  off  and  was  lost  among  the  ashes. 

Farmer  Weatherbeard  changed  himself  into  a  hare,  which 
scratched  and  scraped  about  in  the  fireplace  after  the  ring 


304  THE  BED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

until  the  ashes  went  up  to  its  ears.  But  Jack  changed  him- 
self into  a  fox,  and  bit  the  hare's  head  off,  and  if  Farmer 
Weatherbeard  was  possessed  of  the  evil  one  all  was  now  over 
with  him. 

MOTHER  HOLLE  * 

Once  upon  a  time  there  was  a  widow  who  had  two  daugh- 
ters; one  of  them  was  pretty  and  clever,  and  the  other  ugly 
and  lazy.  But  as  the  ugly  one  was  her  own  daughter,  she 
liked  her  far  the  best  of  the  two,  and  the  pretty  one  had  to 
do  all  the  work  of  the  house,  and  was  in  fact  the  regular 
maid-of-all-work.  Every  day  she  had  to  sit  by  a  well  on  the 
high-road,  and  spin  till  her  fingers  were  so  sore  that  they 
often  bled.  One  day  some  drops  of  blood  fell  on  her  spindle, 
so  she  dipped  it  into  the  well  meaning  to  wash  it,  but,  as 
luck  would  have  it,  it  dropped  from  her  hand  and  fell  right 
in.  She  ran  wTeeping  to  her  stepmother,  and  told  her  what 
had  happened,  but  she  scolded  her  harshly,  and  was  so  mer- 
ciless in  her  anger  that  she  said: 

"Well,  since  you've  dropped  the  spindle  down,  you  must 
just  go  after  it  yourself,  and  don't  let  me  see  your  face  again 
until  you  bring  it  with  you." 

Then  the  poor  girl  returned  to  the  well,  and  not  know- 
ing what  she  was  about,  in  the  despair  and  misery  of  her 
heart  she  sprang  into  the  well  and  sank  to  the  bottom.  For 
a  time  she  lost  all  consciousness,  and  when  she  came  to  her- 
self again  she  was  lying  in  a  lovely  meadow,  with  the  sun 
shining  brightly  overhead,  and  a  thousand  flowers  blooming 
at  her  feet.  She  rose  up  and  wandered  through  this  en- 
chanted place,  till  sk«  came  to  a  baker's  oven  full  of  bread, 
and  the  bread  called  out  to  her  as  she  passed: 

"  Oh !  take  me  out,  take  me  out,  or  I  shall  be  burned  to  a 
cinder.    I  am  quite  done  enough." 

So  she  stepped  up  quickly  to  the  oven  and  took  out  all 
the  loaves  one  after  the  other.  Then  she  went  on  a  little 
further  and  came  to  a  tree  loaded  with  beautiful  rosy- 
cheeked  apples,  and  as  she  passed  by  it  called  out : 

"  Oh !  shake  me,  shake  me,  my  apples  are  all  quite  ripe." 

She  did  as  she  was  asked,  and  shook  the  tree  till  the 
*  Grimm. 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  305 

apples  fell  like  rain  and  none  were  left  hanging.  When 
she  had  gathered  them  all  up  into  a  heap  she  went  on  her 
way  again,  and  came  at  length  to  the  little  house,  at  the  door 
of  t  which  sat  an  old  woman.  The  old  dame  had  such  large 
teeth  that  the  girl  felt  frightened  and  wanted  to  run  away, 
but  the   old  woman  called  after  her: 

"  What  are  you  afraid  of,  dear  child  ?  Stay  with  me 
and  be  my  little  maid,  and  if  you  do  your  work  well  I  will 
reward  you  handsomely;  but  you  must  be  very  careful  how 
you  make  my  bed — you  must  shake  it  well  till  the  feathers 
fly;  then  people  in  the  world  below  say  it  snows,  for  I  am 
Mother  Holle." 

She  spoke  so  kindly  that  the  girl  took  heart  and  agreed 
readily  to  enter  her  service.  She  did  her  best  to  please  the 
old  woman,  and  shook  her  bed  with  such  a  will  that  the 
feathers  flew  about  like  snow-flakes;  so  she  led  a  very  easy 
life,  was  never  scolded,  and  lived  on  the  fat  of  the  land. 
But  after  she  had  been  some  time  with  Mother  Holle  she 
grew  sad  and  depressed,  and  at  first  she  hardly  knew  herself 
what  was  the  matter.  At  last  she  discovered  that  she  was 
homesick,  so  she  went  to  Mother  Holle  and  said : 

"I  know  I  am  a  thousand  times  better  off  here  than  I 
ever  was  in  my  life  before,  but  notwithstanding,  I  have  a 
great  longing  to  go  home,  in  spite  of  all  your  kindness  to 
me.  I  can  remain  with  you  no  longer,  but  must  return  to 
my  own  people." 

"  Your  desire  to  go  home  pleases  me,"  said  Mother  Holle, 
"  and  because  you  have  served  me  so  faithfully,  I  will  show 
you  the  way  back  into  the  world  myself." 

So  she  took  her  by  the  hand  and  led  her  to  an  open  door, 
and  as  the  girl  passed  through  it  there  fell  a  heavy  shower 
of  gold  all  over  her,  till  she  was  covered  with  it  from  top  to 
toe. 

"  That's  a  reward  for  being  such  a  good  little  maid,"  said 
Mother  Holle,  and  she  gave  her  the  spindle  too  that  had 
fallen  into  the  well.  Then  she  shut  the  door,  and  the  girl 
found  herself  back  in  the  world  again,  not  far  from  her  own 
house;  and  when  she  came  to  the  court-yard  the  old  hen, 
who  sat  on  the  top  of  the  wall,  called  out: 

**  Click,  clock,  clack, 
Our  golden  maid's  come  back.1' 


306 


THE   RED    FAIRY   BOOK. 


Then  she  went  in  to  her  stepmother,  and  as  she  had  re- 
turned covered  with  gold  she  was  welcomed  home. 

She  proceeded  to  tell  all  that  had  happened  to  her,  and 
when  the  mother  heard  how  she  had  come  by  her  riches, 
she  was  most  anxious  to  secure  the  same  luck  for  her  own 
idle,  ugly  daughter;  so  she  told  her  to  sit  at  the  well  and 
spin.     In  order  to  make  her  spindle  bloody,  she  stuck  her 


hand  into  a  hedge  of  thorns  and  pricked  her  finger.  Then 
she  threw  the  spindle  into  the  well,  and  jumped  in  herself 
after  it.  Like  her  sister  she  came  to  the  beautiful  meadow, 
and  followed  the  same  path.  When  she  reached  the  baker's 
oven  the  bread  called  out  as  before : 

"  Oh !  take  me  out,  or  I  shall  be  burned  to  a  cinder.  I  am 
quite  done  enough." 

But  the  good-for-nothing  girl  answered : 


THE  BED  FAIRY  BOOK.  307 

"A  pretty  joke,  indeed;  just  as  if  I  should  dirty  my 
hands  for  you !  " 

And  on  she  went.  Soon  she  came  to  the  apple-tree, 
which  cried: 

"  Oh !  shake  me,  shake  me,  my  apples  are  all  quite  ripe." 

"  I'll  see  myself  further,"  she  replied ;  "  one  of  them  might 
fall  on  my  head." 

And  so  she  pursued  her  way.  When  she  came  to  Mother 
Holle's  house  she  wasn't  the  least  afraid,  for  she  had  been 
warned  about  her  big  teeth,  and  she  readily  agreed  to  be- 
come her  maid.  The  first  day  she  worked  very  hard,  and 
did  all  her  mistress  told  her,  for  she  thought  of  the  gold  she 
would  give  her;  but  on  the  second  day  she  began  to  be  lazy, 
and  on  the  third  she  wouldn't  even  get  up  in  the  morning. 
She  didn't  make  Mother  Holle's  bed  as  she  ought  to  have 
done,  and  never  shook  it  enough  to  make  the  feathers  fly. 
So  her  mistress  soon  grew  weary  of  her,  and  dismissed  her, 
much  to  the  lazy  creature's  delight. 

"  For  now,"  she  thought,  "  the  shower  of  golden  rain  will 
come." 

Mother  Holle  led  her  to  the  same  door  as  she  had  done 
her  sister,  but  when  she  passed  through  it,  instead  of  the 
gold  rain  a  kettle  full  of  pitch  came  showering  over  her. 

"  That's  a  reward  for  your  service,"  said  Mother  Holle, 
and  she  closed  the  door  behind  her. 

So  the  lazy  girl  came  home  all  covered  with  pitch,  and 
when  the  old  hen  on  top  of  the  wall  saw  her,  it  called  out: 

u  Click,  clock,  clack, 
Our  dirty  maid's  come  back." 

But  the  pitch  remained  sticking  to  her,  and  never  as  long 
as  she  lived  could  it  be  got  off. 


MIKNTKIN".* 

There  was  once  upon  a  time  a  couple  of  needy  folk  who 

lived  in  a  wretched  hut,  in  which  there  was  nothing  but 

black  want ;  so  they  had  neither  food  to  eat  nor  wood  to 

burn.  But  if  they  had  next  to  nothing  of  all  else  they  had 

*  From  J.  Moe. 


3Q8  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

the  blessing  of  God  so  far  as  children  were  concerned,  and 
every  year  brought  them  one  more.  The  man  was  not  over- 
pleased  at  this.  He  was  always  going  about  grumbling  and 
growling,  and  saying  that  it  seemed  to  him  that  there  might 
be  such  a  thing  as  having  too  many  of  these  good  gifts;  so 
shortly  before  another  baby  was  born  he  went  into  the  wood 
for  some  firewood,  saying  that  he  did  not  want  to  see  the 
new  child;  he  would  hear  him  quite  soon  enough  when  he 
began  to  squall  for  some  food. 

As  soon  as  this  baby  was  born  it  began  to  look  about  the 
room.  "  Ah,  my  dear  mother !  "  said  he,  "  give  me  some 
of  my  brothers'  old  clothes,  and  food  enough  for  a  few  days, 
and  I  will  go  out  into  the  world  and  seek  my  fortune,  for, 
so  far  as  I  can  see,  you  have  children  enough." 

"  Heaven  help  thee,  my  son !  "  said  the  mother,  "  that  will 
never  do;  thou  art  still  far  too  little." 

But  the  little  creature  was  determined  to  do  it,  and  begged 
and  prayed  so  long  that  the  mother  was  forced  to  let  him 
have  some  old  rags  and  tie  up  a  little  food  for  him,  and  then 
gayly  and  happily  he  went  out  into  the  world. 

But  almost  before  he  was  out  of  the  house  another  boy 
was  born,  and  he  too  looked  about  him,  and  said,  "  Ah,  my 
dear  mother!  give  me  some  of  my  brothers'  old  clothes,  and 
food  for  some  days,  and  then  I  will  go  out  into  the  world  and 
find  my  twin  brother,  for  you  have  children  enough." 

"Heaven  help  thee,  little  creature!  thou  art  far  too  little 
for  that,"  said  the  woman ;  "  it  would  never  do." 

But  she  spoke  to  no  purpose,  for  the  boy  begged  and 
prayed  until  he  had  got  some  old  rags  and  a  bundle  of  pro- 
visions, and  then  he  set  out  manfully  into  the  world  to  find 
his  twin  brother. 

When  the  younger  had  walked  for  some  time  he  caught 
sight  of  his  brother  a  short  distance  in  front  of  him,  and 
called  to  him  and  made  him  to  stop. 

"Wait  a  minute,"  he  said;  "you  are  walking  as  if  for  a 
wager,  but  you  ought  to  have  stayed  to  see  your  younger 
brother  before  you  hurried  off  into  the  world." 

So  the  elder  stood  still  and  looked  back,  and  when  the 
younger  had  got  up  to  him,  and  had  told  him  that  he  was 
his  brother,  he  said :  "  But  now,  let  us  sit  down  and  see  what 
kind  of  food  our  mother  has  given  us,"  and  that  they  did. 


THE   EED    FAIEY    BOOK. 


309 


When  they  had  walked  on  a  little  further  they  came  to  a 
brook  which  ran  through  a  green  meadow,  and  there  the 
younger  said  they  ought  to  christen  each  other.  "  As  we  had 
to  make  such  haste,  and  had  no  time  to  do  it  at  home,  we 
may  as  well  do  it  here,"  said  he. 

"  What  will  you  be  called  ? "  asked  the  elder. 

"I  will  be  called  Minnikin,"  answered  the  second;  "and 
you,  what  will  you  be  called  ? " 

"  I  will  be  called  King  Pippin,"  answered  the  elder. 

They  christened  each  other  and  then  went  onward.    When 


they  had  walked  for  some  time  they  came  to  a  cross-way, 
and  there  they  agreed  to  part,  and  each  take  his  own  road. 
This  they  did,  but  no  sooner  had  they  walked  a  short  dis- 
tance than  they  met  again.  So  they  parted  once  more,  and 
each  took  his  own  road,  but  in  a  very  short  time  the  same 
:-hing  happened  again — they  met  each  other  before  they  were 
>xc  all  aware,  and  so  it  happened  the  third  time  also.  Then 
they  arranged  with  each  other  that  each  should  choose  h"'** 
•wn  Quarter  and  one  should  go  east  and  the  other  west 


310 


THE   EED    FAIRY   BOOK. 


"But  if  ever  you  fall  into  any  need  or  trouble,"  said  the 
elder,  "call  me  thrice  and  I  will  come  and  help  you;  only 
you  must  not  call  me  until  you  are  in  the  utmost  need." 

"  In  that  case  we  shall  not  see  each  other  for  some  time," 
said  Minnikin;  so  they  bade  farewell  to  each  other  ana 
Minnikin  went  east  and  King  Pippin  went  west. 

When  Minnikin  had  walked  a  long  way  alone  he  met  am 


old,  old  crook-backed  hag,  who  had  only  one  eye.    Minnikin 
stole  it. 

"  Oh !  oh ! "  cried  the  old  hag,  "  what  has  become  of  my 
eye?" 

"What  will  you  give  me  to  get  your  eye  back?"  said 
Minnikin. 

"I  will  give  thee  a  sword  which  is  such  a  sword  that  it 
can  conquer  a  whole  army,  let  it  be  ever  so  great,"  replied 
the  woman. 
. "  Let  me  have  it,  then,"  said  Minnikin. 

The  old  hag  gave  him  the  sword,  so  she  got  her  eye  back. 
Then  Minnikin  went  onward,  and  when  he  had  wandered  on 
for  some  time  he  again  met  an  old,  old  crook-backed  hag, 


THE  RED  FAIRY   BOOK.  311 

who  had  only  one  eye.  Minnikin  stole  it  before  she  waa 
aware. 

"  Oh !  oh !  what  has  become  of  my  eye  ? "  cried  the  old 
hag. 

"  What  will  you  give  me  to  get  your  eye  back  ? "  said 
Minnikin. 

"  I  will  give  thee  a  ship  which  can  sail  over  fresh  water 
and  salt  water,  over  high  hills  and  deep  dales,"  answered 
the  old  woman. 

"  Let  me  have  it,  then,"  said  Minnikin. 

So  the  old  woman  gave  him  a  little  bit  of  a  ship  which 
was  no  bigger  than  he  could  put  in  his  pocket,  and  then  she 
got  her  eye  back,  and  she  went  her  way  and  Minnikin  his. 
When  he  had  walked  on  for  a  long  time  he  met  for  the  third 
time  an  old,  old  crook-backed  hag,  who  had  only  one  eye. 
This  eye  also  Minikin  stole,  and  when  the  woman  screamed 
and  lamented,  and  asked  what  had  become  of  her  eye,  Min- 
nikin said :  "  What  will  you  give  me  to  get  your  eye  back  ? " 

"  I  will  give  thee  the  art  to  brew  a  hundred  lasts  of  malt 
in  one  brewing." 

So,  for  teaching  that  art,  the  old  hag  got  her  eye  back, 
and  they  both  went  away  by  different  roads. 

But  when  Minnikin  had  walked  a  short  distance,  it 
seemed  to  him  that  it  might  be  worth  while  to  see  what  his 
ship  could  do;  so  he  took  it  out  of  his  pocket,  and  first  he 
put  one  foot  into  it,  and  then  the  other,  and  no  sooner  had 
he  put  one  foot  into  the  ship  than  it  became  much  larger, 
and  when  he  set  the  other  foot  into  it,  it  grew  as  large  as 
ships  that  sail  on  the  sea. 

Then  Minnikin  said:  "Now  go  over  fresh  water  and 
salt  water,  over  high  hills  and  deep  dales,  and  do  not  stop 
until  thou  comest  to  the  king's  palace." 

And  in  an  instant  the  ship  went  away  as  swiftly  as  any 
bird  in  the  air  till  it  got  just  below  the  king's  palace,  and 
there  it  stood  still.  • 

From  the  windows  of  the  king's  palace  many  persons  had 
seen  Minnikin  come  sailing  thither,  and  had  stood  to  watch 
him;  and  they  were  all  so  astounded  that  they  ran  down  to 
see  what  manner  of  man  this  could  be  who  came  sailing 
in  a  ship  through  the  air.  But  while  they  were  running 
down  from  the  king's  palace,  Minnikin  had  got  out  of  the 


312 


THE   RED    FAIRY    BOOK 


ship  and  had  put  it  in  his  pocket  again;  for  the  moment  he 
got  out  of  it,  it  once  more  became  as  small  as  it  had  been 
when  he  got  it  from  the  old  woman,  and  those  who  came 
from  the  king's  palace  could  see  nothing  but  a  ragged  little 
boy  who  was  standing  down  by  the  seashore.  The  king 
asked  where  he  had  come  from,  but  the  boy  said  he  did  not 
know,  nor  yet  could  he  tell  them  how  he  had  got  there,  but 
he  begged  very  earnestly  and  prettily  for  a  place  in  the  king's 
palace.    If  there  was  nothing  else  for  him  to  do,  he  said,  he 


would  fetch  wood  and  water  for  the  kitchen-maid,  and  that 
he  obtained  leave  to  do. 

When  Minnikjn  went  up  to  the  king's  palace  he  saw  that 
everything  there  was  hung  with  black  both  outside  and  in- 
side, from  the  bottom  to  the  top;  so  he  asked  the  kitchen- 
maid  what  that  meant. 

"  Oh,  I  will  tell  you  that,"  answered  the  kitchen-maid. 
"  The  king's  daughter  was  long  ago  promised  away  to  three 
trolls,  and  next  Thursday  evening  one  of'  them  is  to  eome  to 
fetch  her.  Bitter  Red  has  said  that  he  will  be  able  to  set 
her  free,  but  who  knows  whether  he  will  be  able  to  do  it  i  so 
you  may  easily  imagine  what  grief  and  distress  we  are  in. 
toie." 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  313 

So  when  Thursday  evening  came,  Hitter  Red  aecompanied 
the  princess  to  the  seashore;  for  there  she  was  to  meet  the 
troll,  and  Ritter  Red  was  to  stay  with  her  and  protect  her. 
He,  however,  was  very  unlikely  to  do  the  troll  much  injury, 
for  no  sooner  had  the  princess  seated  herself  by  the  seashore 
than  Ritter  Red  climbed  up  into  a  great  tree  which  was 
standing  there,  and  hid  himself  as  well  as  he  could  among 
the  branches. 

The  princess  wept,  and  begged  him  most  earnestly  not  to 
go  and  leave  her;  but  Ritter  Red  did  not  concern  himself 
about  that.  "It  is  better  that  one  should  die  than  two," 
said  he. 

In  the  meantime  Minnikin  begged  the  kitchen-maid  very 
prettily  to  give  him  leave  to  go  down  to  the  strand  for  a 
short  time. 

"  Oh,  what  could  you  do  down  to  the  strand  ? "  said  the 
kitchen-maid.    "  You  have  nothing  to  do  there." 

"  Oh,  yes,  my  dear,  just  let  me  go,"  said  Minnikin.  "  I 
should  like  to  go  and  play  with  the    other  children." 

"  Well,  well,  go  then !  "  said  the  kitchen-maid,  "  but  don't 
let  me  find  you  staying  there  over  the  time  when  the  pan  has 
to  be  set  on  the  fire  for  supper,  and  the  roast  put  on  the 
spit;  and  mind  you  bring  back  a  good  armful  of  wood  for 
the  kitchen." 

Minnikin  promised  this,  and  ran  down  to  the  seashore. 

Just  as  he  got  to  the  place  where  the  king's  daughter  was 
sitting,  the  troll  came  rushing  up  with  a  great  whistling 
and  whirring,  and  he  was  so  big  and  stout  that  he  was 
terrible  to  see,  and  he  had  five  heads. 

"  Fire !  "  screeched  the  troll. 

"  Fire  yourself !  "  said  Minnikin. 

"  Can  you  fight  ?  "  roared  the  troll. 

"  If  not,  I  can  learn,"  said  Minnikin. 

So  the  troll  struck  at  him  with  a  great  thick  iron  bar 
which  he  had  in  his  fist,  till  the  sods  flew  five  yards  up  into 
the  air. 

"  Fie !  "  said  Minnikin.  "  That  was  not  much  of  a  blow. 
Now  you  shall  see  one  of  mine." 

So  he  grasped  the  sword  which  he  had  got  from  the  old 
crook-backed  woman,  and  slashed  at  the  troll,  so  that  all 
five  heads  went  flying  away  over  the  sands. 


314  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

When  the  princess  saw  that  she  was  delivered  she  was  so 
delighted  that  she  did  not  know  what  she  was  doing,  and 
skipped  and  danced. 

"  Come  and  sleep  a  bit  with  your  head  in  my  lap,"  she 
said  to  Minnikin,  and  as  he  slept  she  put  a  golden  dress 
on  him. 

But  when  Kitter  Red  saw  that  there  was  no  longer  any 
danger  afoot,  he  lost  no  time  in  creeping  down  from  the 
tree.  He  then  threatened  the  princess,  until  at  length  she 
was  forced  to  promise  to  say  that  it  was  he  who  had  rescued 
^ier,  for  he  told  her  if  she  did  not  he  would  kill  her.  Then 
he  took  the  troll's  lungs  and  tongue  and  put  them  in  his 
pocket-handkerchief,  and  led  the  princess  back  to  the  king's 
palace;  and  whatsoever  had  been  lacking  to  him  in  the  way 
of  honor  before  was  lacking  no  longer,  for  the  king  did  not 
know  how  to  exalt  him  enough,  and  always  set  him  on  his 
own  right  hand  at  table. 

As  for  Minnikin,  first  he  went  out  on  the  troll's  ship  and 
took  a  great  quantity  of  gold  and  silver  hoops  away  with 
him,  and  then  he  trotted  back  to  the  king's  palace. 

When  the  kitchen-maid  caught  sight  of  all  this  gold  and 
silver  she  was  quite  amazed,  and  said :  "  My  dear  friend 
Minnikin,  where  have  you  got  all  that  from  ? "  for  she  was 
half -afraid  that  he  had  not  come  by  it  honestly. 

"  Oh,"  answered  Minnikin,  "  I  have  been  home  awhile, 
and  these  hoops  had  fallen  off  some  of  our  buckets,  so  I 
brought  them  away  with  me  for  you." 

So  when  the  kitchen-maid  heard  that  they  were  for  her, 
she  asked  no  more  questions  about  the  matter.  She  thanked 
Minnikin,  and  everything  was  right  again  at  once. 

Next  Thursday  evening  all  went  just  the  same,  and  every- 
one was  full  of  grief  and  affliction,  but  Bitter  Bed  said  that 
he  had  been  able  to  deliver  the  king's  daughter  from  one 
troll,  so  that  he  could  very  easily  deliver  her  from  another, 
and  he  led  her  down  to  the  seashore.  But  he  did  not  do 
much  harm  to  this  troll  either,  for  when  the  time  came  when 
the  troll  might  be  expected,  he  said  as  he  had  said  before: 
"  It  is  better  that  one  should  die  than  two,"  and  then  climbed 
up  into  the  tree  again. 

Minnikin  once  more  begged  the  cook's  leave  to  go  down 
to  the  seashore  for  a  short  time. 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  315 

"  Oh,  what  can  you  do  there  ? "  said  the  cook. 

"  My  dear,  do  let  me  go ! "  said  Minnikin ;  "  I  should  so 
like  to  go  down  there  and  amuse  myself  a  little  with  the 
other  children." 

So  this  time  also  she  said  that  he  should  have  leave  to  go, 
but  he  must  first  promise  that  he  would  be  back  by  the  time 
the  joint  was  turned,  and  that  he  would  bring  a  great  arm- 
ful of  wood  with  him. 

No  sooner  had  Minnikin  got  down  to  the  strand  than  the 
troll  came  rushing  along  with  a  great  whistling  and  whirr- 
ing, and  he  was  twice  as  big  as  the  first  troll,  and  he  had 
ten  heads. 

"Fire!"  shrieked  the  troll. 

"  Fire  yourself !  "  said  Minnikin. 

"  Can  you  fight  ?  "  roared  the  troll. 

"  If  not,  I  can  learn,"  said  Minnikin. 

So  the  troll  struck  at  him  with  his  iron  club — which  was 
still  bigger  than  that  which  the  first  troll  had  had — so  that 
the  earth  flew  ten  yards  up  in  the  air. 

"  Fie !  "  said  Minnikin.  "  That  was  not  much  of  a  blow. 
Now  you  shall  see  one  of  my  blows." 

Then  he  grasped  his  sword  and  struck  at  the  troll,  so  that 
all  his  ten  heads  danced  away  over  the  sands. 

And  again  the  king's  daughter  said  to  him,  "  Sleep  awhile 
on  my  lap,"  and  while  Minnikin  lay  there  she  drew  some 
silver  raiment  over  him. 

As  soon  as  Fitter  Red  saw  that  there  was  no  longer  any 
danger  afoot,  he  crept  down  from  the  tree  and  threatened 
the  princess,  until  at  last  she  was  again  forced  to  promise 
to  say  that  it  was  he  who  had  rescued  her ;  after  which  he  took 
the  tongue  and  lungs  of  the  troll  and  put  them  in  his 
pocket-handkerchief,  and  then  he  conducted  the  princess 
back  to  the  palace.  There  was  joy  and  gladness  in  the 
palace,  as  may  be  imagined,  and  the  king  did  not  know  how 
to  show  enough  honor  and  respect  to  Hitter  Red. 

Minnikin,  however,  took  home  with  him  an  armful  of 
gold  and  silver  hoops  from  the  troll's  ship.  When  he  came 
back  to  the  king's  palace  the  kitchen-maid  clapped  her  hands 
and  wondered  where  he  could  have  got  all  that  gold  and  sil- 
ver; but  Minnikin  answered  that  he  had  been  home  for  a 
short  time,  and  that  it  was  only  the  hoops  which  had  fallen 


316  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

off  some  pails,  and  that  he  had  brought  them  away  for 
the  kitchen-maid. 

When  the  third  Thursday  evening  came,  everything  hap- 
pened exactly  as  it  had  happened  on  the  two  former  occa- 
sions. Everything  in  the  king's  palace  was  hung  with  black, 
and  everyone  was  sorrowful  and  distressed;  but  Ritter  Red 
said  that  he  did  not  think  that  they  had  much  reason  to  be 
afraid — he  had  delivered  the  king's  daughter  from  two 
trolls,  so  he  could  easily  deliver  her  from  the  third  as 
well. 

He  led  her  down  to  the  strand,  but  when  the  time  drew 
near  for  the  troll  to  come,  he  climbed  into  the  tree  again 
and  hid  himself. 

The  princess  wept  and  entreated  him  to  stay,  but  all  to 
no  purpose.  He  stuck  to  his  old  speech,  "  It  is  better  that  one 
life  should  be  lost  than  two." 

This  evening  also  Minnikin  begged  leave  to  go  down  to 
the  seashore. 

"  Oh,  what  can  you  do  there  ? "  answered  the  kitchen- 
maid. 

However,  he  begged  until  at  last  he  got  leave  to  go,  but 
he  was  forced  to  promise  that  he  would  be  back  again  in 
the  kitchen  when  the  roast  had  to  be  turned. 

Almost  immediately  after  he  had  got  down  to  the  sea- 
shore the  troll  came  with  a  great  whizzing  and  whirring,  and 
he  was  much,  much  bigger  than  either  of  the  two  former 
ones,  and  he  had  fifteen  heads. 

"  Fire !  "  roared  the  troll. 

"  Fire  yourself !  "  said  Minnikin. 

"  Can  you  fight  ?  "  screamed  the  troll. 

"If  not,  I  can  learn,"  said  Minnikin. 

"I  will  teach  you,"  yelled  the  troll,  and  struck  at  him 
with  his  iron  club  so  that  the  earth  flew  up  fifteen  yards  high 
into  the  air. 

"  Fie !  "  said  Minnikin.  "  That  was  not  much  of  a  blow. 
Now  I  will  let  you  see  one  of  my  blows." 

So  saying  he  grasped  his  sword,  and  cut  at  the  troll  in 
such  a  way  that  all  his  fifteen  heads  danced  away  over 
the  sands. 

Then  the  princess  was  delivered,  and  she  thanked  Min- 
nikin and  blessed  him  for  saving  her. 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  317 

u  Sleep  awhile  now  on  my  lap,"  said  she,  and  while  he  lay 
there  she  put  a  garment  of  brass  upon  him. 

"  But  now,  how  shall  we  have  it  made  known  that  it  was 
you  who  saved  me  ? "  said  the  king's  daughter. 

"  That  I  will  tell  you,"  answered  Minnikin.  "  When 
Ritter  Red  has  taken  you  home  again,  and  given  out  that 
it  was  he  who  rescued  you,  he  will,  as  you  know,  have  you 
to  wife,  and  half  the  kingdom.  But  when  they  ask  you  on 
your  wedding-day  whom  you  will  have  to  be  your  cup-bearer, 
you  must  say,  '  I  will  have  the  ragged  boy  who  is  in  the  kit- 
chen, and  carries  wood  and  water  for  the  kitchen-maid'; 
and  when  I  am  filling  your  cups  for  you,  I  will  spill  a  drop 
upon  his  plate  but  none  upon  yours,  and  then  he  will  be 
angry  and  strike  me,  and  this  will  take  place  thrice.  But 
the  third  time  you  must  say,  i  Shame  on  you  thus  to  smite 
the  beloved  of  mine  heart.  It  is  he  who  delivered  me  from 
the  trolls,  and  he  is  the  one  whom  I  will  have.' " 

Then  Minnikin  ran  back  to  the  king's  palace  as  he  had 
done  before,  but  first  he  went  on  board  the  troll's  ship  and 
took  a  great  quantity  of  gold  and  silver  and  other  precious 
things,  and  out  of  these  he  once  more  gave  to  the  kitchen- 
maid  a  whole  armful  of  gold  and  silver  hoops. 

~No  sooner  did  Ritter  Red  see  that  all  danger  was  over 
than  he  crept  down  from  the  tree,  and  threatened  the  king's 
daughter  till  he  made  her  promise  to  say  that  he  had  rescued 
her.  Then  he  conducted  her  back  to  the  king's  palace,  and 
if  honor  enough  had  not  been  done  him  before  it  was  cer- 
tainly done  now,  for  the  king  had  no  other  thought  than 
how  to  make  much  of  the  man  who  had  saved  his  daughter 
from  the  three  trolls;  and  it  was  settled  then  that  Ritter 
Red  should  marry  her,  and  receive  half  the  kingdom. 

On  the  wedding-day,  however,  the  princess  begged  that 
she  might  have  the  little  boy  who  was  in  the  kitchen,  and 
carried  wood  and  water  for  the  kitchen-maid,  to  fill  the  wine- 
cups  at  the  wedding  feast. 

"  Oh,  what  can  you  want  with  that  dirty,  ragged  boy  in 
here?"  said  Ritter  Red,  but  the  princess  said  that  she  in- 
sisted on  having  him  as  cup-bearer  and  would  have  no 
one  else:  and  at  last  she  got  leave,  and  then  everything  was 
done  a*  had  been  agreed  on  between  the  princess  and  Minni- 
kin.   J3<b  spilled  a  drop  on  Ritter  Red's  plate,  but  none  upon 


318  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

hers,  and  each  time  that  he  did  it  Hitter  Red  fell  into  a 
rage  and  struck  him.  At  the  first  blow  all  the  ragged  gar- 
ments which  he  had  worn  in  the  kitchen  fell  from  off  Min- 
nikin,  at  the  second  blow  the  brass  garments  fell  off,  and  at 
the  third  the  silver  raiment,  and  there  he  stood  in  the 
golden  raiment,  which  was  so  bright  and  splendid  that  light 
flashed  from  it. 

Then  the  king's  daughter  said :  "  Shame  on  you  thus  to 
smite  the  beloved  of  my  heart.  It  is  he  who  delivered  me 
from  the  trolls,  and  he  is  the  one  whom  I  will  have." 

Ritter  Red  swore  that  he  was  the  man  who  had  saved  her, 
but  the  king  said :  "  He  who  delivered  my  daughter  must 
have  some  token  in  proof  of  it." 

So  Ritter  Red  ran  off  at  once  for  his  handkerchief  with 
the  lungs  and  tongue,  and  Minnikin  went  and  brought  all 
the  gold  and  silver  and  precious  things  which  he  had  taken 
out  of  the  troll's  ships;  and  they  each  of  them  laid  these  to- 
kens before  the  king. 

"  He  who  has  such  precious  things  in  gold  and  silver  and 
diamonds,"  said  the  king,  "  must  be  the  one  who  killed  the 
trolls,  for  such  things  are  not  to  be  had  anywhere  else." 
So  Ritter  Red  was  thrown  into  the  snake-pit,  and  Minni- 
kin was  to  have  the  princess  and  half  the  kingdom. 

One  day  the  king  want  out  walking  with  Minnikin,  and 
Minnikin  asked  him  if  he  had  never  had  any  other  children. 

"  Yes,"  said  the  king,  "  I  had  another  daughter,  but  the 
troll  carried  her  away  because  there  was  no  one  who  could 
deliver  her.  You  are  going  to  have  one  daughter  of  mine, 
but  if  you  can  set  free  the  other,  who  has  been  taken  by  the 
troll,  you  shall  willingly  have  her  too,  and  the  other  half  of 
the  kingdom  as  well." 

"  I  may  as  well  make  the  attempt,"  said  Minnikin,  "  but 
I  must  have  an  iron  rope  which  is  five  hundred  ells  long, 
and  then  I  must  have  five  hundred  men  with  me,  and  pro- 
visions for  five  weeks,  for  I  have  a  long  voyage    before  me." 

So  the  king  said  he  should  have  these  things,  but  the 
king  was  afraid  that  he  had  no  ship  large  enough  to  carry 
mem  all. 

"But  I  have  a  ship  of  my  own,"  said  Minnikin,  and  he 
took  the  one  which  the  old  woman  had  given  him  out  of 
his  pocket.     The  king  laughed   at  him  and  thought  that 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  319 

it  was  only  one  of  his  jokes,  but  Minnikin  begged  him  just 
to  give  him  what  he  asked  for,  and  then  he  should  see  some- 
thing. Then  all  that  Minnikin  had# asked  for  was  brought; 
and  first  he  ordered  them  to  lay  the  cable  in  the  ship,  but 
there  was  no  one  who  was  able  to  lift  it,  and  there  was  only 
room  for  one  or  two  men  at  a  time  in  the  little  bit  of  a  ship. 
Then  Minnikin  himself  took  hold  of  the  cable,  and  laid  one 
or  two  links  of  it  into  the  ship,  and  as  he  threw  the  links 
into  it  the  ship  grew  bigger  and  bigger,  and  at  last  it  was 
so  large  that  the  cable,  and  the  five  hundred  men,  and  pro- 
visions, and  Minnikin  himself,  had  room  enough. 

"Now  go  over  fresh  water  and  salt  water,  over  hill  and 
dale,  and  do  not  stop  until  thou  comest  to  where  the  king's 
daughter  is,"  said  Minnikin  to  the  ship,  and  off  it  went  in 
a  moment  over  land  and  water  till  the  wind  whistled  and 
moaned  all  round  about  it. 

When  they  had  sailed  thus  a  long,  long  way,  the  ship 
stopped  short  in  the  middle  of  the  sea. 

"  Ah,  now  we  have  got  there,"  said  Minnikin,  "  but  how 
we  are  to  get  back  again  is  a  very  different  thing." 

Then  he  took  the  cable  and  tied  one  end  of  it  round  his 
body.  "  Now  I  must  go  to  the  bottom,"  he  said,  "  but  when 
I  give  a  good  jerk  to  the  cable  and  want  to  come  up  again, 
you  must  all  pull  like  one  man,  or  there  will  be  an  end  of 
all  life  both  for  you  and  for  me."  So  saying  he  sprang  into 
the  water,  and  yellow  bubbles  rose  up  all  around  him.  He 
sank  lower  and  lower,  and  at  last  he  came  to  the  bottom. 
There  he  saw  a  large  hill  with  a  door  in  it,  and  in  he  went. 
When  he  had  got  inside  he  found  the  other  princess  sitting 
sewing,  but  when  she  saw  Minnikin  she  joyfully  clapped  her 
hands. 

"  Ah,  Heaven  be  praised ! "  she  said.  "  I  have  not  seen  a 
Christian  man  since  I  came  here." 

"  I  have  come  for  you,"  said  Minnikin. 

"Alas!  you  will  not  be  able  to  get  me,"  said  the  king's 
daughter.  "  It  is  of  no  use  even  to  think  of  that ;  if  the  troll 
catches  sight  of  you  he  will  take  your  life." 

"You  had  better  tell  me  about  him,"  said  Minnikin. 
"  Where  is  he  gone?    It  would  be  amusing  to  see  him." 

So  the  king's  daughter  told  Minnikin  that  the  troll  was 
out  trying  to  get  hold  of  someone  who  could  brew  a  hundred 


320 


THE    RED    FAIRY    BOOK. 


lasts  of  malt  at  one  brewing,  for  there  was  to  be  a  feast  at 
the  troll's,  at  which  less  than  that  would  not  be  drunk. 

"  I  can  do  that,"  said  Minnikin. 

"  Ah !  if  only  the  troll  were  not  so  quick-tempered  I  might 
have  told  him  that,"  answered  the  princess,  "  but  he  is  so 
ill-natured  that  he  will  tear  you  to  pieces,  I  fear,  as  soon  as 
he  comes  in.     But  I  will  try  to  find  some  way  of  doing  it 


Can  you  hide  yourself  here  in  the  cupboard?  and  thei  pq 
will  see  what  happens." 

Minnikin  did  this,  and  almost  before  he  had  crept  ^)to 
the  cupboard  and  hidden  himself,  came  the  troll. 

"  Huf !  What  a  smell  of  Christian  man's  blood !  "  said 
the  troll. 

"  Yes,  a  bird  flew  over  the  roof  with  a  Christian  man's 
bone  in  his  bill,  and  let  it  fall  down  our  chimney,"  answered 
the  princess.  "I  made  haste  enough  to  get  it  away  again, 
1/ut  it  must  be  that  which  smells  so,  notwithstanding." 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  321 

"Yes,  it  must  be  that,"  said  the  troll. 

Then  the  princess  asked  if  he  had  got  hold  of  anyone 
who  could  brew  a  hundred  lasts  of  malt  at  one  brewing. 

"  No,  there  is  no  one  who  can  do  it,"  said  the  troll. 

"A  short  time  since  there  was  a  man  here  who  said  he 
could  do   it,"   said  the  king's   daughter. 

"  How  clever  you  always  are ! "  said  the  troll.  "  How 
could  you  let  him  go  away?  You  must  have  known  that 
I  was  just  wanting  a  man  of  that  kind." 

"  Well,  but  I  didn't  let  him  go,  after  all,"  said  the  princess ; 
"but  father  is  so  quick-tempered,  so  I  hid  him  in  the  cup- 
board, but  if  father  has  not  found  anyone  then  the  man  is 
Btill  here." 

"  Let  him  come  in,"  said  the  troll. 

When  Minnikin  came,  the  troll  asked  if  it  were  true  that 
he  could  brew  a  hundred  lasts  of  malt  at  one  brewing. 

"  Yes,"  said  Minnikin,  "  it  is." 

"It  is  well,  then,  that  I  have  lighted  on  thee,"  said  the 
troll.  "Fall  to  work  this  very  minute,  but  Heaven  help 
thee  if  thou  dost  not  brew  the  ale  strong." 

"  Oh,  it  shall  taste  well,"  said  Minnikin,  and  at  once  set 
himself  to  work  to  brew.  "  But  I  must  have  more  trolls  to 
help  to  carry  what  is  wanted,"  said  Minnikin;  "these  that 
I  have  are  good  for  nothing." 

So  he  got  more  and  so  many  that  there  was  a  swarm  of 
them,  and  then  the  brewing  went  on.  When  the  sweet- 
wort  was  ready  they  were  all,  as  a  matter  of  course,  anxious 
to  taste  it,  first  the  troll  himself  and  then  the  others;  but 
Minnikin  had  brewed  the  wort  so  strong  that  they  all  fell 
down  dead  like  so  many  flies  as  soon  as  they  had  drunk  of  it. 
At  last  there  was  no  one  left  but  one  wretched  old  hag  who 
was  lying  behind  the  stove. 

"  Oh,  poor  old  creature !  "  said  Minnikin,  "  you  shall  have 
a  taste  of  the  wort  too  like  the  rest."  So  he  went  away  and 
scooped  up  a  little  from  the  bottom  of  the  brewing  vat  in 
a  milk  pan,  and  gave  it  to  her,  and  then  he  was  quit  of  the 
whole  of  them. 

While  Minnikin  was  now  standing  there  looking  about 
him,  he  cast  his  eye  on  a  large  chest.  This  he  took  and 
filled  it  with  gold  and  silver,  and  then  tied  the  cable  round 
l^niself  and  the  princess  and  the  chest,  and  tugged  at  the 


322  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

rope  with  all  his  might,  whereupon  his  men  drew  them  up 
safe  and  sound. 

As  soon  as  Minnikin  had  got  safely  on  his  ship  again,  he 
said :  "  Now  go  over  salt  water  and  fresh  water,  over  hill 
and  dale,  and  do  not  stop  until  thou  comest  unto  the  king's 
palace."  And  in  a  moment  the  ship  went  up  so  fast  that 
the  yellow  foam  rose  up  all  round  about  it. 

When  those  who  were  in  the  king's  palace  saw  the  ship, 
they  lost  no  time  in  going  to  meet  him  with  song  and  music, 
and  thus  they  marched  up  toward  Minnikin  with  great  re- 
joicings; but  the  gladdest  of  all  was  the  king,  for  now  he 
had  got  his  other  daughter  back  again. 

But  now  Minnikin  was  not  happy,  for  both  the  princesses 
wanted  to  have  him,  and  he  wanted  to  have  none  other  than 
the  one  whom  he  had  first  saved,  and  she  was  the  younger. 
For  this  cause  he  was  continually  walking  backward  and 
forward,  thinking  how  he  could  contrive  to  get  her,  and  yet 
do  nothing  that  was  unkind  to  her  sister. 

One  day  when  he  was  walking  about  and  thinking  of  this, 
it  came  into  his  mind  that  if  he  only  had  his  brother,  King 
Pippin,  with  him,  who  was  so  like  himself  that  no  one 
could  distinguish  the  one  from  the  other,  he  could  let  him 
have  the  elder  princess  and  half  the  kingdom;  for  himself 
the  other  half  was  enough.  As  soon  as  this  thought  occurred 
to  him  he  went  outside  the  palace  and  called  King  Pippin, 
but  no  one  came.  So  he  called  a  second  time,  and  a  little 
louder,  but  no  one  came.  So  Mannikin  called  for  the  third 
time,  and  with  all  his  might,  and  there  stood  his  brother  by 
his  side. 

"  I  told  you  that  you  were  not  to  call  me  unless  you  were 
in  the  utmost  need,"  he  said  to  Minnikin,  "  and  there  is  not 
even  so  much  as  a  midge  here  who  can  do  you  any  harm !  " 
and  with  that  he  gave  Minnikin  such  a  blow  that  he  rolled 
over  on  the  grass. 

"  Shame  on  you  to  strike  me !  "  said  Minnikin.  "  First 
have  I  won  one  princess  and  half  the  kingdom,  and  then 
the  other  princess  and  the  other  half  of  the  kingdom;  and 
now,  when  I  was  just  thinking  that  I  would  give  you  one 
of  the  princesses  and  one  of  the  halves  of  the  kingdom,  do 
you  think  you  have  any  reason  to  give  me  such  a  blow  ?  " 

When  King  Pippin  heard  that  he  begged  his  brother's 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  323 

pardon,  and  they  were  reconciled  at  once  and  became  good 
friends. 

"  Now,  as  you  know,"  said  Minnikin,  "  we  are  so  like  each 
other  that  no  one  can  tell  one  of  us  from  the  other;  so  just 
change  clothes  with  me  and  go  up  to  the  palace,  and  then 
the  princesses  will  think  that  I  am  coming  in,  and  the  one 
who  kisses  you  first  shall  be  yours,  and  I  will  have  the  other." 
For  he  knew  that  the  elder  princess  was  the  stronger,  so 
he  could  very  well  guess  how  things  would  go. 

King  Pippin  at  once  agreed  to  this.  He  changed  clothes 
with  his  brother,  and  went  into  the  palace.  When  he  en- 
tered the  princesses'  apartments  they  believed  that  he  was 
Minnikin,  and  both  of  them  ran  up  to  him  at  once;  but  the 
elder,  who  was  bigger  and  stronger,  pushed  her  sister  aside, 
and  threw  her  arms  around  King  Pippin's  neck  and  kissed 
him;  so  he  got  her  to  wife,  and  Minnikin  the  younger  sister. 
It  will  be  easy  to  understand  that  two  weddings  took  place, 
and  they  were  so  magnificent  that  they  were  heard  of  and 
talked  about  all  over  seven  kingdoms. 


BUSHY  BRIDE  * 

There  was  once  upon  ^i  time  a  widower  who  had  a  son  and 
a  daughter  by  his  first  wife.  They  were  both  good  children, 
and  loved  each  other  with  all  their  hearts.  After  some  time 
had  gone  by  the  man  married  again,  and  he  chose  a 
widow  with  one  daughter  who  was  ugly  and  wicked, 
and  her  mother  was  ugly  and  wicked  too.  From  the 
very  day  that  the  new  wife  came  into  the  house  there 
was  no  peace  for  the  man's  children,  and  not  a  corner  to 
be  found  where  they  could  get  any  rest;  so  the  boy  thought 
that  the  best  thing  he  could  do  was  to  go  out  into  the  world 
and  try  to  earn  his  own  bread. 

When  he  had  roamed  about  for  some  time  he  came  to  the 
king's  palace,  where  he  obtained  a  place  under  the  coachman ; 
and  very  brisk  and  active  he  was,  and  the  horses  that  he 
looked  after  were  so  fat  and  sleek  that  they  shone  again. 

But  his  sister,  who  was  still  at  home,  fared  worse  and 
worse.  Both  her  stepmother  and  her  stepsister  were  always 
*  From  J.  Moe. 


324  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

finding  fault  with  her,  whatsoever  she  did  and  whitherso- 
ever she  went,  and  they  scolded  her  and  abused  her  so  that 
she  never  had  an  hour's  peace.  They  made  her  do  all  the 
hard  work,  and  hard  words  fell  to  her  lot  early  and  late, 
but  little  enough  food  accompanied  them. 

One  day  they  sent  her  to  the  brook  to  fetch  some  water 
home,  and  an  ugly  and  horrible  head  rose  up  out  of  the 
water  and  said :     "  Wash  me,  girl !  " 

"  Yes,  I  will  wash  you  with  pleasure,"  said  the  girl,  and 
began  to  wash  and  scrub  the  ugly  face,  but  she  couldn't  help 
thinking  that  it  was  a  very  unpleasant  piece  of  work.  When 
she  had  done  it,  and  done  it  well,  another  head*rose  up  out 
of  the  water,  and  this  one  was  uglier  still. 

"  Brush  me,  girl !  "  said  the  head. 

"Yes,  I  will  brush  you  with  pleasure,"  said  the  girl,  and 
set  to  work  with  the  tangled  hair,  and,  as  may  be  easily 
imagined,  this  too  was  by  no  means  pleasant  work. 

When  she  had  got  it  done,  another  and  a  much  more  ugly 
and  horrible  head  rose  up  out  of  the  water. 

"  Kiss  me,  girl !  "  said  the  head. 

"  Yes,  I  will  kiss  you,"  said  the  man's  daughter,  and  she 
did  it,  but  she  thought  it  was  the  worst  bit  of  work  that  she 
had  ever  had  to  do  in  her  life. 

So  the  heads  all  began  to  talk  to  each  other,  and  to  ask 
what  they  should  do  for  this  girl  who  was  so  full  of  kind- 
liness. 

"  She  shall  be  the  prettiest  girl  that  ever  was,  and  fair  and 
bright  as  the  day,"  said  the  first  head. 

"  Gold  shall  drop  from  her  hair  whenever  she  brushes  it," 
said  the  second. 

"  Gold  shall  drop  from  her  mouth  whenever  she  speaks," 
said  the  third  head. 

So  when  the  man's  daughter  went  home,  looking  as  beau- 
tiful and  bright  as  day,  the  stepmother  and  her  daughter 
grew  much  more  ill-tempered,  and  it  was  worse  still  when 
she  began  to  talk,  and  they  saw  that  golden  coins  dropped 
from  her  mouth.  The  stepmother  fell  into  such  a  towering 
passion  that  she  drove  the  man's  daughter  into  the  pig-stye — 
she  might  stay  there  with  her  fine  show  of  gold,  the  step- 
mother said,  but  she  should  not  be  permitted  to  set  foot  in 
the  house. 


THE   RED   FAIRY   BOOK. 


325 


It  was  not  long  before  the  mother  wanted  her  own  daughter 
to  go  to  the  stream  to  fetch  some  water. 

When  she  got  there  with  her  pails,  the  first  head  rose  up 
out  of  the  water  close  to  the  bank.  "  Wash  me,  girl ! " 
it  said. 

"  Wash  yourself !  "  answered  the  woman's  daughter. 

Then  the  second  head  appeared. 

"  Brush  me,  girl !  "  said  the  head. 

"  Brush  yourself !  "  said  the  woman's  daughter. 

So  down  it  went  to  the  bottom  and  the  third  head  came  up. 

"  Kiss  me,  girl !  "  said  the  head. 

"  As  if  I  would  kiss  your  ugly  mouth ! "  said  the  girl. 

So  again  the  heads  talked  together  about  what  they  should 
do  for  this  girl  who  was  so  ill-tempered  and  full  of  her  own 
importance,  and  they  agreed  that  she  should  have  a  nose 


9\^^  I'M 

fe^5Sfe% 

W^SSdj, 

that  was  four  ells  long,  and  a  jaw  that  was  three  ells,  and 
a  fir  bush  in  the  middle  of  her  forehead,  and  every  time 
she  spoke  ashes  should  fall  from  her  mouth. 

When  she  came  back  to  the  cottage  door  with  her  pails, 
she  called  to  her  mother  who  was  inside,  "  Open  the  door !  " 

"  Open  the  door  yourself,  my  own  dear  child ! "  said  the 
mother. 

"  I  can't  get  near,  because  of  my  nose,"  said  the  daughter. 

When  the  mother  came  and  saw  her  you  may  imagine 
what  a  state  of  mind  she  was  in,  and  how  she  screamed  and 
lamented,  but  neither  the  nose  nor  the  jaw  grew  any  the 
less  for  that. 


326  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

Now  the  brother,  who  was  in  service  in  the  king's  palace, 
had  taken  a  portrait  of  his  sister,  and  he  had  carried  the 
picture  away  with  him,  and  every  morning  and  evening 
he  knelt  down  before  it  and  prayed  for  his  sister,  so  dearly 
did  he  love  her. 

The  other  stable  boys  had  heard  him  doing  this,  so  they 
peeped  through  the  keyhole  into  his  room,  and  saw  that  he 
was  kneeling  there  before  a  picture;  so  they  told  everyone 
that  every  morning  and  evening  the  youth  knelt  down  and 
prayed  to  an  idol  which  he  had ;  and  at  last  they  went  to  the 
king  himself,  and  begged  that  he  too  would  peep  through  the 
keyhole,  and  see  for  himself  what  the  youth  did.  At  first  the 
king  would  not  believe  this,  but  after  a  long,  long  time,  they 
prevailed  with  him,  and  he  crept  on  tiptoe  to  the  door,  peeped 
through,  and  saw  the  youth  on  his  knees,  with  his  hands 
clasped  together  before  a  picture  which  was  hanging  on  the 
wall. 

"  Open  the  door !  "  cried  the  king,  but  the  youth  did  not 
hear. 

So  the  king  called  to  him  again,  but  the  youth  was  pray- 
ing so  fervently  that  he  did  not  hear  him  this  time  either. 

"  Open  the  door,  I  say !  "  cried  the  king  again.  "  It  is  I ! 
I  want  to  come  in." 

So  the  youth  sprang  to  the  door  and  unlocked  it,  but  in 
his  haste  he  forgot  to  hide  the  picture. 

When  the  king  entered  and  saw  it,  he  stood  still  as  if  he 
were  in  fetters,  and  could  not  stir  from  the  spot,  for  the 
picture  seemed  to  him  so  beautiful. 

"  There  is  nowhere  on  earth  so  beautiful  a  woman  as  this !  " 
said  the  king. 

But  the  youth  told  him  that  she  was  his  sister,  and  that 
he  had  painted  her,  and  that  if  she  was  not  prettier  than  the 
picture  she  was  at  all  events  not  uglier. 

"Well,  if  she  is  as  beautiful  as  that,  I  will  have  her  fo> 
my  queen,"  said  the  king,  and  he  commanded  the  youth  to 
go  home  and  fetch  her  without  a  moment's  delay,  and  to 
lose  no  time  in  coming  back.  The  youth  promised  to  make 
all  the  haste  he  could,  and  set  forth  from  the  king's  palace. 

When  the  brother  arrived  at  home  to  fetch  his  sister,  her 
stepmother  and  stepsister  would  go  too.  So  they  all  set 
out  together,  and  the  man's  daughter  took  with  her  a  casket 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  327 

in  which  she  kept  her  gold,  and  a  dog  which  she  called 
Little  Snow.  These  two  things  were  all  that  she  had  in- 
herited from  her  mother.  When  they  had  traveled  for  some 
time  they  had  to  cross  the  sea,  and  the  brother  sat  down  at 
the  helm,  and  the  mother  and  the  two  half-sisters  went  to  the 
forward  part  of  the  vessel,  and  they  sailed  a  long,  long  way. 
At  last  they  came  in  sight  of  land. 

"  Look  at  that  white  strand  there ;  that  is  where  we  shall 
land,"  said  the  brother,  pointing  across  the  sea. 

"  What  is  my  brother  saying  ? "  inquired  the  man's 
daughter. 

"  He  says  that  you  are  to  throw  your  casket  out  into  the 
sea,"  answered  the  stepmother. 

"Well,  if  my  brother  says  so,  I  must  do  it,"  said  the 
man's  daughter,  and  she  flung  her  casket  into  the  sea. 

When  they  had  sailed  for  some  time  longer,  the  brother 
once  more  pointed  over  the  sea.  "  There  you  may  see  the 
palace  to  which  we  are  bound,"  said  he. 

"  What  is  my  brother  saying  ? "  asked  the  man's  daughter. 

"  Now  he  says  that  you  are  to  throw  your  dog  into  the  sea," 
answered  the  stepmother. 

The  man's  daughter  wept,  and  was  sorely  troubled,  for 
Little  Snow  was  the  dearest  thing  she  had  on  earth,  but  at 
last  she  threw  him  overboard. 

"  If  my  brother  says  that  I  must  do  it,  but  Heaven  knows 
how  unwilling  I  am  to  throw  thee  out,  Little  Snow ! "  said 
she. 

So  they  sailed  onward  a  long  way  further. 

"  There  may'st  thou  see  the  king  coming  out  to  meet 
thee,"  said  the  brother,  pointing  to  the  seashore. 

"  What  is  my  brother  saying  ?  "  asked  his  sister  again. 

"  Now  he  says  that  you  are  to  make  haste  and  throw  your- 
self overboard,"  answered  the  stepmother. 

She  wept  and  she  wailed,  but  as  her  brother  had  said 
that,  she  thought  she  must  do  it;  so  she  leaped  into  the 
sea. 

But  when  they  arrived  at  the  palace,  and  the  king  beheld 
the  ugly  bride  with  a  nose  that  was  four  ells  long,  a  jaw 
that  was  three  ells,  and  a  forehead  that  had  a  bush  in  the 
middle  of  it,  he  was  quite  terrified;  but  the  wedding  feast 
was    all  prepared,   as  regarded  brewing   and   baking,  and  all 


328  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

the  wedding  guests  were  waiting,  so,  ugly  as  she  was,  the 
king  was  forced  to  take  her. 

But  he  was  very  wroth,  and  none  can  blame  him  for  that; 
so  he  caused  the  brother  to  be  thrown  into  a  pit  full  of 
snakes. 

On  the  first  Thursday  after  this  a  beautiful  maiden  came 
into  the  kitchen  of  the  palace,  and  begged  the  kitchen- 
maid,  who  slept  there,  to  lend  her  a  brush.  She  begged 
very  prettily,  and  got  it,  and  then  she  brushed  her  hair, 
and  the  gold  dropped  from  it. 

A  little  dog  was  with  her,  and  she  said  to  it :  "  Go  out, 
Little  Snow,  and  see  if  it  will  soon  be  day." 

This  she  said  thrice,  and  the  third  time  that  she  sent  out 
the  dog  to  see,  it  was  near  dawn.  Then  she  was  forced  to 
depart,  but  as  she  went  she  said : 

**  Out  on  thee,  ugly  Bushy  Bride, 
Sleeping  so  soft  by  the  young  King's  side, 
On  sand  and  stones  my  bed  I  make, 
And  my  brother  sleeps  with  the  cold  snake, 
Unpitied  and  unwept. 

I  shall  come  twice  more,  and  then  never  again,"  said  she. 

In  the  morning  the  kitchen-maid  related  what  she  had 
seen  and  heard,  and  the  king  said  that  next  Thursday  night 
he  himself  would  watch  in  the  kitchen  and  see  if  this 
were  true,  and  when  it  had  begun  to  grow  dark  he  went 
out  into  the  kitchen  to  the  girl.  But  though  he  rubbed 
his  eyes  and  did  everything  he  could  to  keep  himself  awake 
it  was  all  in  vain,  for  the  bushy  bride  crooned  and  sang  till 
his  eyes  were  fast  closed,  and  when  the  beautiful  young 
maiden  came  he  was  sound  asleep  and  snoring. 

This  time  also,  as  before,  she  borrowed  a  brush  and 
brushed  her  hair  with  it,  and  the  gold  dropped  down  as 
she  did  it;  and  again  she  sent  the  dog  out  three  times,  and 
when  the  day  dawned  she  departed,  but  as  she  was  going  she 
said  as  she  said  before :  "  I  shall  come  once  more,  and  then 
never  again." 

On  the  third  Thursday  night  the  king  once  more  insisted 
on  keeping  watch.  Then  he  set  two  men  to  hold  him; 
each  of  them  was  to  take  an  arm,  and  shake  him  and  jerk 
him  by  the  arm  whenever  he  seemed  to  be  going  to  fall 
asleep;    and   he   set   two   men   to    watch   his   bushy   brida 


THE    RED    FAIRY    BOOK. 


329 


But  as  the  night  wore  on  the  bushy  bride  again  began  to 
croon  and  to  sing,   so  that  his   eyes   began  to   close   and 


The  Sleeping  King,  Guided  by  his  Attendants,  Cuts  the  Finger  of 
the  Beautiful  Maiden. 


his  head  to  droop  on  one  side.  Then  came  the  lorely 
maiden,  and  got  the  brush  and  brushed  her  hair  till  the 
gold  dropped  from  it,  and  then  she  sent  her  Little  SnoT 
out  to  see  if  it  would  soon  be  day,  and  this  she  did  three 


330  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

times.  The  third  time  it  was  just  beginning  to  grow  light, 
and  then  she  said : 

"  Out  on  thee,  ugly  Bushy  Bride. 
Sleeping  so  soft  by  the  young  King's  side, 
On  sand  and  stones  my  bed  I  make, 
And  my  brother  sleeps  with  the  cold  snake, 
Unpitied  and  unwept." 

Now  I  shall  never  come  again,"  she  said,  and  then  she 
turned  to  go.  But  the  two  men  who  were  holding  the 
king  by  the  arms  seized  his  hands  and  forced  a  knife  into 
his  grasp,  and  then  made  him  cut  her  little  finger  just 
enough  to  make  it  bleed. 

Thus  the  true  bride  was  freed.  The  king  then  awoke, 
and  she  told  him  all  that  had  taken  place,  and  how  her 
stepmother  and  stepsister  had  betrayed  her.  Then  the 
brother  was  at  once  taken  out  of  the  snake-pit — the  snakes 
had  never  touched  him — and  the  stepmother  and  stepsister 
were  flung  down  into  it  instead  of  him. 

No  one  can  tell  how  delighted  the  king  was  to  get  rid 
of  that  hideous  bushy  bride,  and  get  a  queen  who  was 
bright  and  beautiful  as  day  itself. 

And  now  the  real  wedding  was  held,  and  held  in  such  a 
way  that  it  was  heard  of  and  spoken  about  all  over  seven 
kingdoms.  The  king  and  his  bride  drove  to  church,  and 
Little  Snow  was  in  the  carriage  too.  When  the  blessing 
was  given  they  went  home  again,  and  after  that  I  saw  no 
more  of  them. 

SNOWDROP* 

Once  upon  a  time,  in  the  middle  of  winter  when  the 
snow-flakes  were  falling  like  feathers  on  the  earth,  a  queen 
sat  at  a  window  framed  in  black  ebony,  and  sewed.  And 
as  she  sewed  and  gazed  out  to  the  white  landscape,  she 
pricked  her  finger  with  the  needle,  and  three  drops  of  blood 
fell  on  the  snow  outside,  and  because  the  red  showed  out 
so  well  against  the  white  she  thought   to  herself : 

"Oh!  what  wouldn't  I  give  to  have  a  child  as  white  as 
snow,  as  red  as  blood,  and  as  black  as  ebony  !" 
*  Grimm. 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  331 

And  her  wish  was  granted,  for  not  long  after  a  little 
daughter  was  born  to  her,  with  a  skin  as  white  as  snow, 
lips  and  cheeks  as  red  as  blood,  and  hair  as  black  as  ebony. 
They  called  her  Snowdrop,  and  not  long  after  her  birth  the 
queen  died. 

After  a  year  the  king  married  again.  His  new  wife  was 
a  beautiful  woman,  but  so  proud  and  overbearing  that  she 
couldn't  stand  any  rival  to  her  beauty.  She  possessed  a 
magic  mirror,  and  when  she  used  to  stand  before  it  gazing 
at  her  own  reflection  and  asked, 

u  Mirror,  mirror,  hanging  there, 
Who  in  all  the  land's  most  fair?  " 

it  always  replied: 

"  You  are  most  fair,  my  Lady  Queen. 
None  fairer  in  the  land,  I  ween." 

Then  she  was  quite  happy,  for  she  knew  the  mirror 
always  spoke  the  truth. 

But   Snowdrop  was  growing  prettier  and  prettier  every 

day,  and  when  she  was  seven  years  old  she  was  as  beautiful 

as  she  could  be,  and   fairer  even  than  the  queen  herself. 

One  day  when  the  latter  asked  her  mirror  the  usual  question, 

it  replied: 

"  My  Lady  Queen,  you  are  fair,  'tis  true, 
But  Snowdrop  is  fairer  far  than  you." 

Then  the  queen  flew  into  the  most  awful  passion,  and 
turned  every  shade  of  green  in  her  jealousy.  From  this 
hour  she  hated  poor  Snowdrop  like  poison,  and  every  day 
her  envy,  hatred,  and  malice  grew,  for  envy  and  jealousy 
are  like  evil  weeds  which  spring  up  and  choke  the  heart. 
At  last  she  could  endure  Snowdrop's  presence  no  longer, 
and,  calling  a  huntsman  to  her,  she  said : 

"  Take  the  child  out  into  the  wood,  and  never  let  me  see 
her  face  again.  You  must  kill  her,  and  bring  me  back 
her  lungs  and  liver,  that  I  may  know  for  certain  she  is 
dead." 

The  huntsman  did  as  he  was  told  and  led  Snowdrop  out 
into  the  wood,  but  as  he  was  in  the  act  of  drawing  out  his 
knife  to  slay  her,  she  began  to  cry,  and  said : 

"  Oh,  dear  huntsman,  spare  my  life,  and  I  will  promise  to 


332 


THE   RED   FAIRY    BOOK. 


fly  forth  into  the  Tride  wood  and  never  to  return  liomt: 
again." 

And  because  she  was  so  young  and  pretty  the  huntsman 
had  pity  on  her,  and  sa'd: 

"  Well,  run  along,  poor  child."  For  he  thought  to  him 
self,  "  The  wild  beasts  will  soon  eat  her  up." 


And  his  heart  felt  lighter  because  he  hadn't  had  to  do 
the  deed  himself.  And  as  he  turned  away  a  young  boar 
came  running  past,  so  he  shot  it,  and  brought  its  lungs  and 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  333 

liver  home  to  the  queen  as  a  proof  that  Snowdrop  was  really 
dead.  And  the  wicked  woman  had  them  stewed  in  salt,  and 
ate  them  up,  thinking  that  she  had  made  an  end  of  Snow- 
drop forever. 

Now  when  the  poor  child  found  herself  alone  in  the  big 
wood  the  very  trees  around  her  seemed  to  assume  strange 
shapes,  and  she  felt  so  frightened  that  she  didn't  know  what 
to  do.  Then  she  began  to  run  over  the  sharp  stones,  and 
through  the  bramble  bushes,  and  the  wild  beasts  ran  past 
her,  but  they  did  her  no  harm.  She  ran  as  far  as  her  legs 
would  carry  her,  and  as  evening  approached  she  saw  a  little 
house,  and  she  stepped  inside  to  rest.  Everything  was  very 
small  in  the  little  house,  but  cleaner  and  neater  than  any- 
thing you  can  imagine.  In  the  middle  of  the  room  there 
stood  a  table,  covered  with  a  white  table-cloth,  and  seven 
little  plates  and  forks  and  spoons  and  knives  and  tumblers. 
Side  by  side  against  the  wall  there  were  seven  little  beds,  cov- 
ered with  snow-white  counterpanes.  Snowdrop  felt  so  hun- 
gry and  so  thirsty  that  she  ate  a  bit  of  bread  and  a  little 
porridge  from  each  plate,  and  drank  a  drop  of  wine  out  of 
each  tumbler.  Then  feeling  tired  and  sleepy  she  lay  down 
on  one  of  the  beds,  but  it  wasn't  comfortable;  then  she  tried 
all  the  others  in  turn,  but  one  was  too  long,  and  another  too 
short,  and  it  was  only  when  she  got  to  the  seventh  that 
she  found  one  to  suit  her  exactly.  So  she  lay  down  upon  it, 
said  her  prayers  like  a  good  child,  and  fell  fast  asleep. 

When  it  got  quite  dark  the  masters  of  the  little  house 
returned.  They  were  seven  dwarfs  who  worked  in  the  mines, 
right  down  deep  in  the  heart  of  the  mountain.  They  lighted 
their  seven  little  lamps,  and  as  soon  as  their  eyes  got  accus- 
tomed to  the  glare  they  saw  that  someone  had  been  in  the 
room,  for  all  was  not  in  the  same  order  as  they  had  left  it. 

The  first  said : 

"  Who's  been  sitting  on  my  little  chair  ? " 

The  second  said: 

"  Who's  been  eating  my  little  loaf  ? " 

The  third  said: 

"Who's  been  tasting  my  porridge?" 

The  fourth  said: 

"Who's  been  eating  out  of  my  little  plate?" 

The  fifth  said: 


334  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

"  Who's  been  using  my  little  fork  ?  " 

The  sixth  said: 

"  Who's  been  cutting  with  my  little  knife  ? " 

The  seventh  said: 

"  Who's  been  drinking  out  of  my  little  tumbler  ? " 

Then  the  first  dwarf  looked  round  and  saw  a  little  hollow 
in  his  bed,  and  he  asked  again : 

"  Who's  been  lying  on  my  bed  ?  " 

The  others  came  running  round,  and  cried  when  they  saw 
their  beds: 

"  Somebody  has  lain  on  ours  too." 

But  when  the  seventh  came  to  his  bed  he  started  back 
in  amazement,  for  there  he  beheld  Snowdrop  fast  asleep. 
Then  he  called  the  others,  who  turned  their  little  lamps 
full  on  the  bed,  and  when  they  saw  Snowdrop  lying  there 
they  nearly  fell  down  with  surprise. 

"  Goodness  gracious ! "  they  cried,  "  what  a  beautiful 
child!" 

And  they  were  so  enchanted  by  her  beauty  that  they  did 
not  wake  her,  but  let  her  sleep  on  in  the  little  bed.  But  the 
seventh  dwarf  slept  with  his  companions  one  hour  in  each 
bed,  and  in  this  way  he  managed  to  pass  the  night. 

In  the  morning  Snowdrop  awoke,  but  when  she  saw  the 
seven  little  dwarfs  she  felt  very  frightened.  But  they 
were  so  friendly,  and  asked  her  what  her  name  was  in  such 
a  kind  way,  that  she  replied: 

"  I  am  Snowdrop." 

"  Why  did  you  come  to  our  house  ?  "  continued  the  dwarfs. 

Then  she  told  them  how  her  stepmother  had  wished  her 
put  to  death,  and  how  the  huntsman  had  spared  her  life, 
and  how  she  had  run  the  whole  day  till  she  had  come  to 
their  little  house.  The  dwarfs,  when  they  had  heard  her  sad 
story,  asked  her : 

"Will  you  stay  and  keep  house  for  us,  cook,  make  the 
beds,  do  the  washing,  sew  and  knit?  And  if  you  give  satis- 
faction and  keep  everything  neat  and  clean,  you  shall  want 
for  nothing." 

"Yes,"  answered  Snowdrop,  "I  will  gladly  do  all  you 
ask." 

And  so  she  took  up  her  abode  with  them.  Every  morn- 
ing the  dwarfs  went  into  the  mountain,  to  dig  for  gold,  and 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  335 

in  the  evening,  when  they  returned  home,  Snowdrop  always 
had  their  supper  ready  for  them.  But  during  the  day  the 
girl  was  left  quite  alone,  so  the  good  dwarfs  warned  her, 
saying : 

"  Beware  of  your  stepmother.  She  will  soon  find  out  you 
are  here,  and  whatever  you  do  don't  let  anyone  into  the 
house." 

Now  the  queen,  after  she  thought  she  had  eaten  Snow- 
drop's lungs  and  liver,  never  dreamed  but  that  she  was 
once  more  the  most  beautiful  woman  in  the  world;  so  step^ 
ping  before  her  mirror  one  day  she  said : 

"  Mirror,  mirror,  hanging  there, 
Who  in  all  the  land's  most  fair?  " 

and  the  mirror  replied: 

"  My  Lady  Queen,  yon  are  fair,  'tis  true, 
But  Snowdrop  is  fairer  far  than  you. 
Snowdrop,  who  dwells  with  the  seven  little  men, 
Is  as  fair  as  you,  as  fair  again." 

When  the  queen  heard  these  words  she  was  nearly  struck 
dumb  with  horror,  for  the  mirror  always  spoke  the  truth, 
and  she  knew  now  that  the  huntsman  must  have  deceived 
her,  and  that  Snowdrop  was  still  alive.     She  pondered  day 
and  night  how  she  might  destroy  her,  for  as  long  as  she  felt 
she  had  a  rival  in  the  land  her  jealous  heart  left  her  no  rest. 
At  last  she  hit  upon  a  plan.    She  stained  her  face  and  dressed 
herself  up  as  an  old  peddler  wife,  so  that  she  was  quite  un- 
recognizable.    In  this  guise  she  went  over  the  seven  hills 
till  she  came  to  the  house  of  the  seven  dwarfs.     Then  she 
knocked  at  the  door,  calling  out  at  the  same  time: 
"  Fine  wares  to  sell,  fine  wares  to  sell !  " 
Snowdrop  peeped  out  of  the  window,  and  called  out : 
"  Good-day,  mother,  what  have  you  to  sell  ?  " 
"Good  wares,  fine  wares,"  she  answered;  "laces  of  every 
shade  and  description,"  and  she  held  up  one  that  was  made 
©f  some  gay-colored  silk. 

"  Surely  I  can  let  the  honest  woman  in,"  thought  Snow- 
drop; so  she  unbarred  the  door  and  bought  the  pretty  lace. 
"Good  gracious!   child,"  said   the  old  woman,  "what   a 
figure  you've  got.    Come !  I'll  lace  you  up  properly  for  once." 
Snowdrop,  suspecting  no  evil,  stood  before  her  and  let 


336  THE  EED  FAIEY  BOOK. 

her  lace  her  bodice  up,  but  the  old  woman  laced  her  so 
quickly  and  so  tightly  that  it  took  Snowdrop's  breath  away, 
and  she  fell  down  dead. 

"  Now  you  are  no  longer  the  fairest,"  said  the  wicked  old 
woman,  and  then  she  hastened  away. 

In  the  evening  the  seven  dwarfs  came  home,  and  you 
may  think  what  a  fright  they  got  when  they  saw  their  dear 
Snowdrop  lying  on  the  floor,  as  still  and  motionless  as  a 
dead  person.  They  lifted  her  up  tenderly,  and  when  they 
saw  how  tightly  laced  she  was  they  cut  the  lace  in  two,  and 
she  began  to  breathe  a  little  and  gradually  oame  back  to 
life.    When  the  dwarfs  heard  what  had  happened,  they  said : 

"Depend  upon  it,  the  old  peddler  wife  was  none  other 
than  the  old  queen.  In  future  you  must  be  sure  to  let  nc 
one  in,  if  we  are  not  at  home." 

As  soon  as  the  wicked  old  queen  got  home  she  went  straight 
to  her  mirror,  and  said : 

"  Mirror,  mirror,  hanging  there, 
Who  in  all  the  land's  most  fair?" 

and  the  mirror  answered  as  before : 

11  My  Lady  Queen,  you  are  fair,  'tis  true, 
But  Snowdrop  is  fairer  far  than  you. 
Snowdrop,  who  dwells  with  the  seven  little  mea, 
Is  as  fair  as  you,  as  fair  again." 

When  she  heard  this  she  became  as  pale  as  death,  be- 
cause she  saw  at  once  that  Snowdrop  must  be  alive  again. 

"  This  time,"  she  said  to  herself,  "  I  will  think  of  some- 
thing that  will  make  an  end  of  her  once  and  for  all." 

And  by  the  witchcraft  which  she  understood  so  well  she 
made  a  poisonous  comb;  then  she  dressed  herself  up  and 
assumed  the  form  of  another  old  woman.  So  she  went  over 
the  seven  hills  till  she  reached  the  house  of  the  seven  dwarfs, 
and  knocking  at  the  door  she  called  out: 

"  Fine  wares  for  sale." 

Snowdrop  looked  out  of  the  window  and  said: 

"  You  must  go  away,  for  I  may  not  let  anyone  in." 

11  But  surely  you  are  not  forbidden  to  look  out  ? "  said  the 
old  woman,  and  she  held  up  the  poisonous  comb  for  her  to 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  337 

It  pleased  the  girl  so  much  that  she  let  herself  be  taken  in, 
and  opened  the  door.  When  they  had  settled  their  bargain 
the  old  woman  said: 

"  Now  I'll  comb  your  hair  properly  for  you,  for  once  in 
the  way." 

Poor  Snowdrop  thought  no  evil,  but  hardly  had  the  comb 
touched  her  hair  than  the  poison  worked  and  she  fell  down 
unconscious. 

"  Now,  my  fine  lady,  you're  really  done  for  this  time,"  said 
the  wicked  woman,  and  she  made  her  way  home  as  fast  as 
she  could. 

Fortunately  it  was  now  near  evening,  and  the  seven 
dwarfs  returned  home.  When  they  saw  Snowdrop  lying 
dead  on  the  ground,  they  at  once  suspected  that  her  wicked 
stepmother  had  been  at  work  again;  so  they  searched  till 
they  found  the  poisonous  comb,  and  the  moment  they  pulled 
it  out  of  her  head  Snowdrop  came  to  herself  again,  and  told 
them  what  had  happened.  Then  they  warned  her  once  more 
to  be  on  her  guard,  and  to  open  the  door  to  no  one. 

As  soon  as  the  queen  got  home  she  went  straight  to  her 

mirror,  and  asked : 

"  Mirror,  mirror,  hanging  there, 
Who  in  all  the  land's  most  fair?  " 

and  it  replied  as  before : 

11  My  Lady  Queen,  you  are  fair,  'tis  true. 
But  Sno'wdrop  is  fairer  far  than  you. 
Snowdrop,  who  dwells  with  the  seven  little  men, 
Is  as  fair  as  you,  as  fair  again." 

VVTien  she  heard  these  words  she  literally  trembled  and 
shook  with  rage. 

"  Snowdrop  shall  die,"  she  cried ;  "  yes,  though  it  cost  me 
my  own  life." 

Then  she  went  to  the  little  secret  chamber,  which  no  one 
knew  of  but  herself,  and  there  she  made  a  poisonous  apple. 
Outwardly  it  looked  beautiful,  white  with  red  cheeks,  so  that 
everyone  who  saw  it  longed  to  eat  it,  but  anyone  who  might 
do  so  would  certainly  die  on  the  spot.  When  the  apple  was 
quite  finished  she  stained  her  face  and  dressed  herself  up 
as  a  peasant,  and  so  she  went  over  the  seven  hills  to  the 
seven  dwarfs'.  She  knocked  at  the  door,  as  usual,  but  Snow- 
drop put  her  head  out  of  the  window  and  called  out : 


SSS  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

"I  may  not  let  anyone  in:  the  seven  dwarfs  have  for- 
bidden me  to  do  so." 

"  Are  yon  afraid  of  being  poisoned  ? "  asked  the  old 
woman.  "See,  I  will  cut  this  apple  in  half.  I'll  eat  the 
white  cheek  and  you  can  eat  the  red." 

But  the  apple  was  so  cunningly  made  that  only  the 
red  cheek  was  poisonous.  Snowdrop  longed  to  eat  the 
tempting  fruit,  and  when  she  saw  the  peasant  woman 
was  eating  it  herself,  she  couldn't  resist  the  temptation  any 
longer,  and  stretching  out  her  hand  she  took  the  poisonous 
half.  But  hardly  had  the  first  bite  passed  her  lips  than 
she  fell  down  dead  on  the  ground.  Then  the  eyes  of  the 
cruel  queen  sparkled  with  glee,  and  laughing  aloud  she 
cried : 

"  As  white  as  snow,  as  red  as  blood,  and  as  black  as  ebony, 
this  time  the  dwarfs  won't  be  able  to  bring  you  back  to 
life." 

When  she  got  home  she  asked  the  mirror: 

11  Mirror,  mirror,  hanging  there, 
Who  in  all  the  land's  most  fair?  " 

and  this  time  it  replied: 

"  You  are  most  fair,  my  Lady  Queen, 
None  fairer  in  the  land,  I  ween." 

Then  her  jealous  heart  was  at  rest — at  least,  as  much  at 
rest  as  a  jealous  heart  can  ever  be. 

When  the  little  dwarfs  came  home  in  the  evening  they 
found  little  Snowdrop  lying  on  the  ground,  and  she  neither 
breathed  nor  stirred.  They  lifted  her  up,  and  looked  round 
everywhere  to  see  if  they  could  find  anything  poisonous 
about.  They  unlaced  her  bodice,  combed  her  hair,  washed 
her  with  water  and  wine,  but  all  in  vain ;  the  child  was  dead 
and  remained  dead.  Then  they  placed  her  on  a  bier,  and  all 
the  seven  dwarfs  sat  round  it,  weeping  and  sobbing  for  three 
whole  days.  At  last  they  made  up  their  minds  to  bury  her, 
but  she  looked  as  blooming  as  a  living  being,  and  her  cheeks 
were  still  such  a  lovely  color  that  they  said : 

"  We  can't  hide  her  away  in  the  black  ground." 

So  they  had  a  coffin  made  of  transparent  glass,  and  they 
laid  her  in  it,  and  wrote  on  the  lid  in  golden  letters  that 
she  was  a  royal  princess.    Then  they  put  the  coffin  on  the 


THE   RED   FAIRY   BOOK. 


339 


top  of  the  mountain,  and  one  of  the  dwarfs  always  re- 
mained beside  it  and  kept  watch  over  it.  And  the  very 
birds  of  the  air  came  and  bewailed  Snowdrop's  death,  first 
an  owl,  and  then  a  raven,  and  last  of  all  a  little  dove. 

Snowdrop  lay  a  long  time  in  the  coffin,  and  she  always 
looked  the  same,  just  as  if  she  were  fast  asleep,  and  she  re- 
mained as  white  as  snow,  as  red  as  blood,  and  her  hair  as 
black  as  ebony. 

Now  it   happened   one   day  that   a  prince   came   to  the 


wood  and  passed  by  the  dwarfs'  house.  He  saw  the  coffin 
on  the  hill,  with  the  beautiful  Snowdrop  inside  it,  and  when 
he  had  read  what  was  written  on  it  in  golden  letters,  he  said 
to  the  dwarf: 

"Give  me  the  coffin.     I'll  give  you  whatever  you  like 
for  it" 


340  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

But  the  dwarf  said:  "No;  we  wouldn't  part  with  it  for 
all  the  gold  in  the  world." 

"  Well,  then,"  he  replied,  "  give  it  to  me,  because  I  can't 
live  without  Snowdrop.  I  will  cherish  and  love  it  as  my 
dearest  possession." 

He  spoke  so  sadly  that  the  good  dwarfs  had  pity  on  him, 
and  gave  him  the  coffin,  and  the  prince  made  his  servants 
bear  it  away  on  their  shoulders.  Now  it  happened  that  as 
they  were  going  down  the  hill  they  stumbled  over  a  bush, 
and  jolted  the  coffin  so  violently  that  the  poisonous  bit  of 
apple  Snowdrop  had  swallowed  fell  out  of  her  throat.  She 
gradually  opened  her  eyes,  lifted  up  the  lid  of  the  coffin, 
and  sat  up  alive  and  well. 

"  Oh !  dear  me,  where  am  I  ? "  she  cried. 

The  prince  answered  joyfully,  "You  are  with  me,"  and 
he  told  her  all  that  had  happened,  adding,  "  I  love  you  better 
than  anyone  in  the  whole  wide  world.  Will  you  come  with 
me  to  my  father's  palace  and  be  my  wife  ? " 

Snowdrop  consented,  and  went  with  him,  and  the  marriage 
was  celebrated  with  great  pomp  and  splendor. 

Now  Snowdrop's  wicked  stepmother  was  one  of  the  guests 
invited  to  attend  the  wedding  feast.  When  she  had  dressed 
herself  very  gorgeously  for  the  occasion,  she  went  to  the 
mirror,  and  said: 

"  Mirror,  mirror,  hanging  there 
Who  in  all  the  land's  most  fair?  " 

and  the  mirror  answered: 

'*  My  Lady  Queen,  yon  are  fair,  'tis  true, 
But  Snowdrop  is  fairer  far  than  you." 

When  the  wicked  woman  heard  these  words  she  uttered 
a  curse,  and  was  beside  herself  with  rage  and  mortification. 
At  first  she  didn't  want  to  go  to  the  wedding  at  all,  but  at 
the  same  time  she  felt  that  she  would  never  be  happy  till 
she  had  seen  the  young  queen.  As  she  entered  Snowdrop 
recognized  her,  and  nearly  fainted  with  fear;  but  red-hot 
iron  shoes  had  been  prepared  for  the  wicked  old  queen,  and 
she  was  made  to  get  into  them  and  dance  till  she  fell  down 
dead. 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  341 


THE    GOLDEN   GOOSE* 

There  was  once  a  man  who  had  three  sons.  The  youngest 
of  them  was  called  Dullhead,  and  was  sneered  and  jeered 
at  and  snubbed  on  every  possible  opportunity. 

One  day  it  happened  that  the  eldest  son  wished  to  go  into 
the  forest  to  cut  wood,  and  before  he  started  his  mother 
gave  him  a  fine  rich  cake  and  a  bottle  of  wine,  so  that  he 
might  be  sure  not  to  suffer  from  hunger  or  thirst. 

When  he  reached  the  forest  he  met  a  little  old  gray  man 
who  wished  him  "  Good-morning,"  and  said :  "  Do  give 
me  a  piece  of  that  cake  you  have  got  in  your  pocket,  and 
let  me  have  a  draught  of  your  wine — I  am  so  hungry  and 
thirsty." 

But  this  clever  son  replied :  "  If  I  give  you  my  cake  and 
wine  I  shall  have  none  left  for  myself :  you  just  go  your  own 
way";  and  he  left  the  little  man  standing  there  and  went 
further  into  the  forest.  There  he  began  to  cut  down  a  tree, 
but  before  long  he  made  a  false  stroke  with  his  ax,  and  cut 
his  own  arm  so  badly  that  he  was  obliged  to  go  home  and 
have  it  bound  up. 

Then  the  second  son  went  to  the  forest,  and  his  mother 
gave  him  a  good  cake  and  a  bottle  of  wine  as  she  had  to  his 
elder  brother.  He  too  met  the  little  old  gray  man,  who 
begged  nim  for  a  morsel  of  cake  and  a  draught  of  wine. 

But  the  second  son  spoke  most  sensibly  too,  and  said: 
"  Whatever  I  give  to  you  I  deprive  myself  of.  Just  go  your 
own  way,  will  you  ? "  Not  long  after  his  punishment  over- 
took him,  for  no  sooner  had  he  struck  a  couple  of  blows  on 
a  tree  with  his  ax,  than  he  cut  his  leg  so  badly  that  he  had  to 
be  carried  home. 

So  then  Dullhead  said:  "Father,  let  me  go  out  and  cut 
wood." 

But  his  father  answered:  "Both  your  brothers  have  in- 
jured themselves.  You  had  better  leave  it  alone;  you  know 
nothing  about  it." 

But  Dullhead  begged  so  hard  to  be  allowed  to  go  that  at 
last  his  father  said :  "  Very  well,  then — go.  Perhaps  when 
you  have  hurt  yourself,  you  may  learn  to  know  better."  His 
*  Grimm. 


342 


THE   RED    FAIRY    BOOK. 


mother  only  gave  him  a  very  plain  cake  made  with  water 
and  baked  in  cinders,  and  a  bottle  of  sour  beer. 

When  he  got  to  the  forest,  he  too  met  the  little  old  gray 
man,  who  greeted  him  and  said :  "  Give  me  a  piece  of  your 
cake  and  a  draught  from  your  bottle;  I  am  so  hungry  and 
thirsty." 

And  Dullhead  replied :  "  I've  only  got  a  cinder-cake  and 
some  sour  beer,  but  if  you  care  to  have  that,  let  us  sit  down 
and  eat." 

So  they  sat  down,  and  when  Dullhead  brought  out  his 
cake  he  found  it  had  turned  into  a  fine  rich  cake,  and  the 
sour  beer  into  excellent  wine.     Then  they  ate  and  drank. 


and  when  they  had  finished  the  little  man  said:  "Now  I 
will  bring  you  luck,  because  you  have  a  kind  heart  and  are 
willing  to  share  what  you  have  with  others.  There  stands 
an  old  tree;  cut  it  down,  and  among  its  roots  you'll  find 
something."    With  that  the  little  man  took  leave. 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  343 

Then  Dullhead  fell  to  at  once  to  hew  down  the  tree,  and 
when  it  fell  he  found  among  its  roots  a  goose,  whose 
feathers  were  all  of  pure  gold.  He  lifted  it  out,  carried  it 
off,  and  took  it  with  him  to  an  inn  where  he  meant  to  spend 
the  night. 

Now  the  landlord  of  the  inn  had  three  daughters,  and 
when  they  saw  the  goose  they  were  filled  with  curiosity  as 
to  what  this  wonderful  bird  could  be,  and  each  longed  to 
have  one  of  its  golden  feathers. 

The  eldest  thought  to  herself:  "No  doubt  I  shall  soon 
find  a  good  opportunity  to  pluck  out  one  of  its  feathers," 
and  the  first  time  Dullhead  happened  to  leave  the  room 
she  caught  hold  of  the  goose  by  its  wing.  But,  lo  and  be- 
hold! her  fingers  seemed  to  stick  fast  to  the  goose,  and  she 
could  not  take  her  hand  away. 

Soon  after  the  second  daughter  came  in,  and  thought  to 
pluck  a  golden  feather  for  herself  too;  but  hardly  had  she 
touched  her  sister  than  she  stuck  fast  as  well.  At  last  the 
third  sister  came  with  the  same  intentions,  but  the  other 
two  cried :    "  Keep  off !  for  Heaven's  sake,  keep  off !  " 

The  younger  sister  could  not  imagine  why  she  was  to 
keep  off,  and  thought  to  herself:  "If  they  are  both  there, 
why  should  not  I  be  there  too  ? " 

So  she  sprang  to  them ;  but  no  sooner  had  she  touched  one 
of  them  than  she  stuck  fast  to  her.  So  they  all  three  had 
to  spend  the  night  with  the  goose. 

Next  morning  Dullhead  tucked  the  goose  under  his  arm 
and  went  off,  without  in  the  least  troubling  himself  about 
the  three  girls  who  were  hanging  on  to  it.  They  just  had  to 
run  after  him  right  or  left  as  best  they  could.  In  the  middle 
of  a  field  they  met  a  parson,  and  when  he  saw  this  proces- 
sion he  cried:  "For  shame,  you  bold  girls!  What  do  you 
mean  by  running  after  a  young  fellow  through  the  fields 
like  that  ?  Do  you  call  that  proper  behavior  ? "  And  with 
that  he  caught  the  youngest  girl  by  the  hand  to  try  and 
draw  her  away.  But  directly  he  touched  her  he  hung  on  him- 
self, and  had  to  run  along  with  the  rest  of  them. 

Not  long  after  the  clerk  came  that  way,  and  was  much 
surprised  to  see  the  parson  following  the  footsteps  of  three 
girls.  "  Why,  where  is  your  reverence  going  so  fast  ?  "  cried 
he;  don't  forget  there  is  to  be  a  christening  to-day";  and 


344 


THE   RED   FAIRY    BOOK. 


he  ran  after  him,  caught  him  by  the  sleeve,  and  hnng  on  to 
it  himself.  As  the  five  of  them  trotted  along  in  this  fashion 
one  after  the  other,  two  peasants  were  coming  from  their 
work  with  their  hoes.  On  seeing  them  the  parson  called  out 
and  begged  them  to  come  and  rescue  him  and  the  clerk.  Bx.  t 
no  sooner  did  they  touch  the  clerk  than  they  stuck  on  too, 
and  so  there  were  seven  of  them  running  after  Dullhead  and 
his  goose. 

After  a  time  they  all  came  to  a  town  where  a  king  reigned 
whose  daughter  was  so  serious  and  solemn  that  no  one  could 


ever  manage  to  make  her  laugh.  So  the  king  had  decreed 
that  whoever  should  succeed  in  making  her  laugh  should 
marry  her. 

When  Dullhead  heard  this  he  marched  before  the  princess 
with  his  goose  and  its  appendages,  and  as  soon  as  she  saw 
these  seven  people  continually  running  after  each  other  she 
burst  out  laughing,  and  could  not  stop  herself.  Then  Dull- 
head  claimed  her  as  his  bride,  but  the  king,  who  did  not 
much  fancy  him  as  a  son-in-law,  made  all  sorts  of  objections, 
and  told  him  he  must  first  find  a  man  who  could  drink  up  * 
whole  cellarf  ul  of  wine. 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  345 

Dullhead  bethought  him  of  the  little  gray  man,  who  could, 
he  felt  sure,  help  him;  so  he  went  off  to  the  forest,  and  on 
the  very  spot  where  he  had  cut  down  the  tree  he  saw  a  man 
sitting  with  a  most  dismal  expression  of  face. 

Dullhead  asked  him  what  he  was  taking  so  much  to  heart, 
and  the  man  answered :  "  I  don't  know  how  I  am  ever  to 
quench  the  terrible  thirst  I  am  suffering  from.  Cold  water 
doesn't  suit  me  at  all.  To  be  sure  I've  emptied  a  whole  bar- 
rel of  wine,  but  what  is  one  drop  on  a  hot  stone  ? " 

"  I  think  I  can  help  you,"  said  Dullhead.  "  Come  with 
me,  and  you  shall  drink  to  your  heart's  content."  So  he  took 
him  to  the  king's  cellar,  and  the  man  sat  down  before  the 
huge  casks  and  drank  and  drank  till  he  drank  up  the  whole 
contents  of  the  cellar  before  the  day  closed. 

Then  Dullhead  asked  once  more  for  his  bride,  but  the 
king  felt  vexed  at  the  idea  of  a  stupid  fellow  whom  people 
called  "Dullhead"  carrying  off  his  daughter,  and  he  began 
to  make  fresh  conditions.  He  required  Dullhead  to  find  a 
man  who  could  eat  a  mountain  of  bread.  Dullhead  did  not 
wait  to  consider  long,  but  went  straight  off  to  the  forest,  and 
there  on  the  same  spot  sat  a  man  who  was  drawing  in  a 
strap  as  tight  as  he  could  round  his  body,  and  making  a 
most  woeful  face  the  while.  Said  he:  "I'v«  eaten  up  a 
whole  oven  full  of  loaves,  but  what's  the  good  of  that  to 
anyone  who  is  as  hungry  as  I  am?  I  declare  my  stomach 
feels  quite  empty,  and  I  must  draw  my  belt  tight  if  I'm  not 
to  die  of  starvation." 

Dullhead  was  delighted,  and  said:  "Get  up  and  come 
with  me,  and  you  shall  have  plenty  to  eat,"  and  he  brought 
him  to  the  king's  court. 

Now  the  king  had  given  orders  to  have  all  the  flour  in  his 
kingdom  brought  together,  and  to  have  a  huge  mountain 
baked  of  it.  But  the  man  from  the  wood  just  took  up  his 
stand  before  the  mountain  and  began  to  eat,  and  in  one  day 
it  had  all  vanished. 

For  the  third  time  Dullhead  asked  for  his  bride,  but  again 
the  king  tried  to  make  some  evasion,  and  demanded  a  ship 
"  which  could  sail  on  land  and  water.  When  you  come  sail- 
ing in  such  a  ship,"  said  he,  "you  shall  have  my  daughter 
without  further  delay." 

Again  Dullhead  started  off  to  the  forest,  and  there  he 


346  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

found  the  little  old  gray  man  with  whom  he  had  shared  his 
cake,  and  who  said :  "  I  have  eaten  and  I  have  drunk  for 
you,  and  now  I  will  give  you  Ifcte  ship.  I  have  done  all  this 
for  you  because  you  were  kind  and  merciful  to  me." 

Then  he  gave  Dullhead  a  ship  which  could  sail  on  land 
or  water,  and  when  the  king  saw  it  he  felt  he  could  no  longer 
refuse  him  his  daughter. 

So  they  celebrated  the  wedding  with  great  rejoicings; 
and  after  the  king's  death  Dullhead  succeeded  to  the  king- 
dom, and  lived  happily  with  his  wife  for  many  years  after. 


THE   SEVEN  FOALS  * 

There  was  once  upon  a  time  a  couple  of  poor  folks  who 
lived  in  a  wretched  hut,  far  away  from  everyone  else,  in  a 
wood.  They  only  just  managed  to  live  from  hand  to  mouth, 
and  had  great  difficulty  in  doing  even  so  much  as  that,  but 
they  had  three  sons,  and  the  youngest  of  them  was  called 
Cinderlad,  for  he  did  nothing  else  but  lie  and  poke  about 
among  the  ashes. 

One  day  the  eldest  lad  said  that  he  would  go  out  to  earn 
his  living;  he  soon  got  leave  to  do  that,  and  set  out  on  his 
way  into  the  world.  He  walked  on  and  on  for  the  whole 
day,  and  when  night  was  beginning  to  fall  he  came  to  a 
royal  palace.  The  king  was  standing  outside  on  the  steps, 
and  asked  where  he  was  going. 

"  Oh,  I  am  just  going  about  seeking  a  place,  my  father," 
said  the  youth. 

"  Wilt  thou  serve  me,  and  watch  my  seven  foals  ? "  asked 
the  king.  "If  thou  canst  watch  them  for  a  whole  day  and 
tell  me  at  night  what  they  eat  and  drink,  thou  shalt  have  the 
princess  and  half  my  kingdom,  but  if  thou  canst  not,  I  will 
eut  three  red  stripes  on  thy  back." 

The  youth  thought  that  it  was  very  easy  work  to  watch 
the  foals,  and  that  he  could  do  it  well  enough. 

Next  morning,  when  day  was  beginning  to  dawn,  the  king's 

master  of  the  horse  let  out  the  seven  foals;  and  they  ran 

away,  and  the  youth  after  them  just  as  it  chanced,  over  hill 

and  dale,  through  woods  and  bogs.    When  the  youth  had  run 

♦From  J.  Moe. 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  347 

thus  for  a  long  time  lie  began  to  be  tired,  and  when  he  had 
held  on  a  little  longer  he  was  heartily  weary  of  watching  at 
all,  and  at  the  same  moment  he  came  to  a  cleft  in  a  rock 
where  an  old  woman  was  sitting  spinning  with  her  distaff  in 
her  hand. 

As  soon  as  she  caught  sight  of  the  youth,  who  was  running 
after  the  foals  till  the  perspiration  streamed  down  his  face, 
she  cried: 

"  Come  hither,  come  hither,  my  handsome  son,  and  let  me 
comb  your  hair  for  you." 

The  lad  was  willing  enough,  so  he  sat  down  in  the  cleft 
of  the  rock  beside  the  old  hag,  and  laid  his  head  on  her  knees, 


and  she  combed  his  hair  all  day  while  he  lay  there  and  gave 
himself  up  to  idleness. 

When  evening  was  drawing  near,  the  youth  wanted  to  go. 

"  I  may  just  as  well  go  straight  home  again,"  said  he,  "  for 
it  is  no  use  to  go  to  the  king's  palace." 

"Wait  till  it  is  dusk,"  said  the  old  hag,  "and  then  the 
king's  foals  will  pass  by  this  place  again,  and  you  can  run 
home  with  them;  no  one  will  ever  know  that  you  have  been 
lying  here  all  day  instead  of  watching  the  foals." 

So  when  they  came  she  gave  the  lad  a  bottle  of  water 
and  a  bit  of  moss,  and  told  him  to  show  these  to  the  king 
and  say  this  was  what  his  seven  foals  ate  and  drank. 

"Hast  thou  watched  faithfully  and  well  the  whole  day 


348  THE  EED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

long  ? "  said  the  king,  when  the  lad  came  into  his  presence 
in  the  evening. 

"  Yes,  that  I  have !  "  said  the  youth. 

"  Then  you  are  able  to  tell  me  what  it  is  that  my  seven 
foals  eat  and  drink,"  said  the  king. 

So  the  youth  produced  a  bottle  of  water  and  a  bit  of  moss 
which  he  had  got  from  the  old  woman,  saying: 

"  Here  you  see  their  meat,  and  here  you  see  their  drink." 

Then  the  king  knew  how  his  watching  had  been  done,  and 
fell  into  such  a  rage  that  he  ordered  his  people  to  chase 
the  youth  back  to  his  own  home  at  once;  but  first  they  were 
to  cut  three  red  stripes  in  his  back,  and  rub  salt  into  them. 

When  the  youth  reached  home  again,  anyone  can  imagine 
what  a  state  of  mind  he  was  in.  He  had  gone  out  once  to 
seek  a  place,  he  said,  but  never  would  he  do  such  a  thing 
again. 

Next  day  the  second  son  said  that  he  would  now  go  out 
into  the  world  to  seek  his  fortune.  His  father  and  mother 
said  "  No,"  and  bade  him  look  at  his  brother's  back,  but 
the  youth  would  not  give  up  his  design,  and  stuck  to  it, 
and  after  a  long,  long  time  he  got  leave  to  go,  and  set 
forth  on  his  way.  When  he  had  walked  all  day  he  too  came 
to  the  king's  palace,  and  the  king  was  standing  outside  on  the 
steps,  and  asked  where  he  was  going;  and  when  the  youth 
replied  that  he  was  going  about  in  search  of  a  place,  the 
king  said  that  he  might  enter  into  his  service  and  watch 
his  seven  foals.  Then  the  king  promised  him  the  same  pun- 
ishment and  the  same  reward  that  he  had  promised  his 
brother. 

The  youth  at  once  consented  to  this  and  entered  into 
the  king's  service,  for  he  thought  he  could  easily  watch  the 
foals  and  inform  the  king  what  they  ate  and  drank. 

In  the  gray  light  of  dawn  the  master  of  the  horse  let  out 
the  seven  foals,  and  off  they  went  again  over  hill  and  dale, 
and  off  went  the  lad  after  them.  But  all  went  with  him  as  it 
had  gone  with  his  brother.  When  he  had  run  after  the 
foals  for  a  long,  long  time  and  was  hot  and  tired,  he  passed 
by  a  cleft  in  the  rock  where  an  old  woman  was  sitting  spin- 
ning with  a  distaff,  and  she  called  to  him : 

"Come  hither,  come  hither,  my  handsome  son,  and  let 
me  comb  your  hair." 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  349 

The  youth  liked  the  thought  of  this,  and  let  the  foals  run 
where  they  chose,  and  seated  himself  in  the  cleft  of  the  rock 
by  the  side  of  the  old  hag.  So  there  he  sat  with  his  head  on 
her  lap,  taking  his  ease  the  livelong  day. 

The  foals  came  back  in  the  evening,  and  then  he  too  got 
a  bit  of  moss  and  a  bottle  of  water  from  the  old  hag,  which 
things  he  was  to  show  to  the  king.  But  when  the  king  asked 
the  youth :  "  Canst  thou  tell  me  what  my  seven  foals  eat 
and  drink  ? "  and  the  youth  showed  him  the  bit  of  moss  and 
the  bottle  of  water,  and  said:  "Yes,  here  may  you  behold 
their  meat,  and  here  their  drink,"  the  king  once  more  became 
wroth,  and  commanded  that  three  red  stripes  should  be  cut 
on  the  lad's  back,  that  salt  should  be  strewn  upon  them, 
and  that  he  should  then  be  instantly  chased  back  to  his  own 
home.  So  when  the  youth  got  home  again  he  too  related 
all  that  had  happened  to  him,  and  he  too  said  that  he  had 
gone  out  in  search  of  a  place  once,  but  that  never  would  he 
do  it  again. 

On  the  third  day  Cinderlad  wanted  to  set  out.  He  had 
a  fancy  to  try  to  watch  the  seven  foals  himself,  he  said. 

The  two  others  laughed  at  him  and  mocked  him. 
"  What !  when  all  went  so  ill  with  us,  do  you  suppose  that  you 
are  going  to  succeed?  You  look  like  succeeding — you  who 
have  never  done  anything  else  but  lie  and  poke  about  among 
the  ashes,"  said  they. 

"Yes,  I  will  go  too,"  said  Cinderlad,  "for  I  have  taken 
it  into  my  head." 

The  two  brothers  laughed  at  him,  and  his  father  and 
mother  begged  him  not  to  go,  but  all  to  no  purpose,  and 
Cinderlad  set  out  on  his  way.  So  when  he  had  walked  the 
whole  day,  he  too  came  to  the  king's  palace  as  darkness  be- 
gan to  fall. 

There  stood  the  king  outside  on  the  steps,  and  he  asked 
whither  he  was  bound. 

"I  am  walking  about  in  search  of  a  place,"  said  Cinder- 
lad. 

"From  whence  do  you  come,  then?"  inquired  the  king, 
for  by  this  time  he  wanted  to  know  a  little  more  about  the 
men  before  he  took  any  of  them  into  his  service. 

So  Cinderlad  told  him  whence  he  came,  and  that  he  was 
brother  to  the  two  who  had  watched  the  seven  foals  for  the 


350  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

king,  and  then  he  inquired  if  he  might  be  allowed  to  try  to 
watch  them  on  the  following  day. 

"  Oh,  shame  on  them ! "  said  the  king,  for  it  enraged  him 
even  to  think  of  them.  "If  thou  art  brother  to  those  two, 
thou  too  art  not  good  for  much.  I  have  had  enough  of  such 
fellows." 

"  Well,  but  as  I  have  come  here,  you  might  just  give  me 
leave  to  make  the  attempt,"  said  Cinderlad. 

"  Oh,  very  well,  if  thou  art  absolutely  determined  to  have 
thy  back  flayed,  thou  may'st  have  thine  own  way  if  thou  wilt," 
said  the  king. 

"  I  would  much  rather  have  the  princess,"  said  Cinderlad. 

Next  morning  in  the  gray  light  of  dawn,  the  master  of  the 
horse  let  out  the  seven  foals  again,  and  off  they  set  over  hill 
and  dale,  through  woods  and  bogs,  and  off  went  Cinderlad 
after  them.  When  he  had  run  thus  for  a  long  time,  he  too 
came  to  the  cleft  in  the  rock.  There  the  old  hag  was  once 
more  sitting  spinning  from  her  distaff,  and  she  cried  to  Cin- 
derlad : 

"  Come  hither,  come  hither,  my  handsome  son,  and  let  me 
comb  your  hair  for  you." 

"  Come  to  me,  then ;  come  to  me ! "  said  Cinderlad,  as  he 
passed  by  jumping  and  running,  and  keeping  tight  hold  of 
one  of  the  foals'  tails. 

When  he  had  got  safely  past  the  cleft  in  the  rock,  the 
youngest  foal  said: 

"  Get  on  my  back,  for  we  have  still  a  long  way  to  go." 
So  the  lad  did  this. 

And  thus  they  journeyed  onward  a  long,  long  way. 

"  Dost  thou  see  anything  now  ?  "  said  the  foal. 

«  No,"  said  Cinderlad. 

So  they  journeyed  onward  a  good  bit  further. 

*  Dost  thou  see  anything  now  ?  "  asked  the  foal. 

"  Oh,  no,"  said  the  lad. 

When  they  had  gone  thus  for  a  long,  long  way,  the  ft>al 
again  asked : 

"  Dost  thou  see  anything  now?  " 

"  Yes,  now  I  see  something  that  is  white,"  said  Cinderlad. 
u  It  looks  like  the  trunk  of  a  great  thick  birch  tree." 

"  Yes,  that  is  where  we  are  to  go  in,"  said  the  foal. 

When  they  got  to  the  trunk,  the  eldest  foal  broke  it  do^m 


THE    RED    FAIRY   BOOK. 


351 


•a  one  side,  and  then  they  saw  a  door  where  the  trunk  had 
been  standing,  and  inside  this  there  was  a  small  room,  and 
in  the  room  there  was  scarcely  anything  but  a  small  fireplace 
and  a  couple  of  benches,  but  behind  the  door  hung  a  great 
rusty  sword  and  a  small  pitcher. 

"  Canst  thou  wield  that  sword  ? "  asked  the  foal. 

Cinderlad  tried,  but  could  not  do  it;  so  he  had  to  take  a 
draught  from  the  pitcher,  and  then  one  more,  and  after 
that  still  another,  and  then  he  was  able  to  wield  the  sword 
with  perfect  ease. 

"  Good,"  said  the  foal ;  "  and  now  thou  must  take  the 
sword  away  with  thee,  and  with  it  shalt  thou  cut  off  the 
heads  of  all  seven  of  us  on  thy  wedding-day,  and  then  we 


shall  become  princes  again  as  we  were  before.  For  we  ar© 
brothers  of  the  princess  whom  thou  art  to  have  when  thou 
canst  tell  the  king  what  we  eat  and  drink,  but  there  is  a 
mighty  troll  who  has  cast  a  spell  over  us.  When  thou  hast 
cut  off  our  heads,  thou  must  take  the  greatest  care  to  lay 
each  head  at  the  tail  of  the  body  to  which  it  belonged  be- 
fore, and  then  the  spell  which  the  troll  has  cast  upon  us  will 
lose  all  its  power." 

Cinderlad  promised  to  do  this,  and  then  they  went  on 
further. 


352  THE  KED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

When  they  had  traveled  a  long,  long  way,  the  foal  said: 

"Dost  thou  see  anything?" 

"No,"  said  Cinderlad. 

So  they  went  on  a  great  distance  further. 

"  And  now,"  inquired  the  foal,  "  seest  thou  nothing 
now  ? " 

"  Alas !  no,"  said  Cinderlad. 

So  they  traveled  onward  again,  for  many  and  many  a  mile, 
over  hill  and  dale. 

"  Now,  then,"  said  the  foal,  "  dost  thou  not  see  anything 
now?" 

"  Yes,"  said  Cinderlad ;  "  now  I  see  something  like  a  bluish 
streak,  far,  far  away." 

"  That  is  a  river,"  said  the  foal,  "  and  we  have  to  cross  it." 

There  was  a  long,  handsome  bridge  over  the  river,  and 
when  they  had  got  to  the  other  side  of  it  they  again  traveled 
on  a  long,  long  way,  and  then  once  more  the  foal  inquired 
if  Cinderlad  saw  anything.  Yes,  this  time  he  saw  something 
that  looked  black,  far,  far  away,  and  was  rather  like  a  church 
tower. 

"  Yes,"  said  the  foal,  "  we  shall  go  into  that." 

When  the  foals  got  into  the  churchward  they  turned  into 
men  again,  and  looked  like  the  sons  of  a  king,  and  their 
clothes  were  so  magnificent  that  they  shone  with  splendor, 
and  they  went  into  the  church  and  received  bread  and  wine 
from  the  priest,  who  was  standing  before  the  altar,  and  Cin- 
derlad went  in  too.  But  when  the  priest  had  laid  his  hands 
on  the  princes  and  read  the  blessing,  they  went  out  of  the 
church  again,  and  Cinderlad  went  out  too,  but  he  took  with 
him  a  flask  of  wine  and  some  consecrated  bread.  No  sooner 
had  the  seven  princes  come  out  into  the  churchyard  than 
they  became  foals  again,  and  Cinderlad  got  upon  the  back  of 
the  youngest,  and  they  returned  by  the  way  they  had  come, 
only  they  went  much,  much  faster. 

First  they  went  over  the  bridge,  and  then  past  the  trunk  of 
the  birch  tree,  and  then  past  the  old  hag  who  sat  in  the 
cleft  of  the  rock  spinning,  and  they  went  by  so  fast  that 
Cinderlad  could  not  hear  what  the  old  hag  screeched  after 
him,  but  just  heard  enough  to  understand  that  she  was  terri- 
bly enraged. 

It  was  all  but  dark  when  they  got  back  to  the  king  at  night- 


THE  RED  FAIRY   BOOK.  353 

fall,  and  he  himself  was  standing  in  the  court-yard  waiting 
for  them. 

"  Hast  thou  watched  well  and  faithfully  the  whole  day  ? " 
said  the  king  to  Cinderlad. 

"  I  have  done  my  best,"  replied  Cinderlad. 

"  Then  thou  canst  tell  me  what  my  seven  foals  eat  and 
drink  ?  "  asked  the  king. 

So  Cinderlad  pulled  out  the  consecrated  bread  and  the 
flask  of  wine,  and  showed  them  to  the  king.  "  Here  may  you 
behold  their  meat,  and  here  their  drink,"  said  he. 

"Yes,  diligently  and  faithfully  hast  thou  watched,"  said 
the  king,  "thou  shalt  have  the  princess  and  half  the  king- 
dom." 

So  all  was  made  ready  for  the  wedding,  and  the  king  said 
that  it  was  to  be  so  stately  and  magnificent  that  everyone 
should  hear  of  it,  and  everyone  inquire  about  it. 

But  when  they  sat  down  to  the  marriage-feast,  the  bride- 
groom arose  and  went  down  to  the  stable,  for  he  said  that  he 
had  forgotten  something  which  he  must  go  and  look  to. 
When  he  got  there  he  did  what  the  foals  had  bidden  him, 
and  cut  off  the  heads  of  all  the  seven.  First  the  eldest,  and 
then  the  second,  and  so  on  according  to  their  age,  and  he  was 
extremely  careful  to  lay  each  head  at  the  tail  of  the  foal  to 
which  it  had  belonged,  and  when  that  was  done,  all  the  foals 
became  princes  again.  When  he  returned  to  the  marriage- 
feast  with  the  seven  princes,  the  king  was  so  joyful  that  he 
both  kissed  Cinderlad  and  clapped  him  on  the  back,  and  his 
bride  was  still  more  delighted  with  him  than  she  had  been 
before. 

"  Half  my  kingdom  is  thine  already,"  said  the  king,  "  and 
the  other  half  shall  be  thine  after  my  death,  for  my  sons 
can  get  countries  and  kingdoms  for  themselves  now  that 
they  have  become  princes  again." 

Therefore,  as  all  may  well  believe,  there  were  joy  and  mer- 
riment at  that  wedding. 


354  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

THE  MARVELOUS  MUSICIAN  * 

There  was  once  upon  a  time  a  marvelous  musician.  One 
day  he  was  wandering  through  a  wood  all  by  himself,  think- 
ing now  of  one  thing,  now  of  another,  till  there  was  nothing 
else  left  to  think  about.    Then  he  said  to  himself: 

"  Time  hangs  very  heavily  on  my  hands  when  I'm  all 
alone  in  the  wood.  I  must  try  and  find  a  pleasant  com- 
panion." 

So  he  took  his  fiddle  out,  and  fiddled  till  he  woke  the  echoes 
round.  After  a  time  a  wolf  came  through  the  thicket  and 
trotted  up  to  the  musician. 

"  Oh !  it's  a  wolf,  is  it  ? "  said  he.  "  I've  not  the  smallest 
wish  for  his  society." 

But  the  wolf  approached  him  and  said : 

"  Oh,  my  dear  musician,  how  beautifully  you  play !  I 
wish  you'd  teach  me  how  it's  done." 

"  That's  easily  learned,"  answered  the  fiddler ;  "  you  must 
only  do  exactly  as  I  tell  you." 

"  Of  course  I  will,"  replied  the  wolf.  "  I  can  promise 
that  you  will  find  me  a  most  apt  pupil." 

So  they  joined  company  and  went  on  their  way  together, 
and  after  a  time  they  came  to  an  old  oak  tree,  which  was 
hollow  and  had  a  crack  in  the  middle  of  the  trunk. 

"  Now,"  said  the  musician,  "  if  you  want  to  learn  to  fiddle, 
here's  your  chance.    Lay  your  front  paws  in  this  crack." 

The  wolf  did  as  he  was  told,  and  the  musician  quickly 
seized  a  stone,  and  wedged  both  his  fore  paws  so  firmly  into 
the  crack  that  he  was  held  there,  a  fast  prisoner. 

"Wait  there  till  I  return,"  said  the  fiddler,  and  he  went 
on  his  way. 

After  a  time  he  said  to  himself  again : 

"  Time  hangs  very  heavily  on  my  hands  when  I'm  all  alone 
in  the  wood ;  I  must  try  and  find  a  companion." 

So  he  drew  out  his  fiddle,  and  fiddled  away  lustily.    Pres- 
ently  a  fox  slunk  through  the  trees. 
/  "Aha!  what  have  we  here?"  said  the  musician.    "A  fox; 

well,  I  haven't  the  smallest  desire  for  his  company." 

The  fox  came  straight  up  to  him  and  said: 
*  Grimm. 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  355 

"My  dear  friend,  how  beautifully  you  play  the  fiddle;  I     >^ 
would  like  to  learn  how  you  do  it." 

"Nothing  easier,"  said  the  musician,  "if  you'll  promise 
to  do  exactly  as  I  tell  you." 

"  Certainly,"  said  the  fox,  "  you  have  only  to  say  the  word." 

"  Well,  then,  follow  me,"  replied  the  fiddler. 

When  they  had  gone  a  bit  of  the  way,  they  came  to  a  path 
with  high  trees  on  each  side.  Here  the  musician  halted, 
bent  a  stout  hazel  bough  down  to  the  ground  from  one  side 
of  the  path,  and  put  his  foot  on  the  end  of  it  to  keep  it  down. 
Then  he  bent  a  branch  down  from  the  other  side  and  said : 

"  Give  me  your  left  front  paw,  my  little  fox,  if  you  really 
wish  to  learn  how  it's  done." 

The  fox  did  as  he  was  told,  and  the  musician  tied  his 
front  paw  to  the  end  of  one  of  the  branches. 

"  Now,  my  friend,"  he  said,  "  give  me  your  right  paw." 

This  he  bound  to  the  other  branch,  and  having  carefully 
seen  that  his  knots  were  all  secure,  he  stepped  off  the  ends  of 
the  branches,  and  they  sprang  back,  leaving  the  poor  fox 
suspended  in  mid-air. 

"  Just  you  wait  where  you  are  till  I  return,"  said  the 
musician,  and  he  went  on  his  way  again. 

Once  more  he  said  to  himself: 

"  Time  hangs  heavily  on  my  hands  when  I'm  all  alone 
in  the  wood ;  I  must  try  and  find  another  companion." 

So  he  took  out  his  fiddle  and  played  as  merrily  as  before. 
This  time  a  little  hare  came  running  up  at  the  sound. 

"  Oh !  here  comes  a  hare,"  said  the  musician ;  "  I've  not 
the  smallest  desire  for  his  company." 

"How  beautifully  you  play,  dear  Mr.  Fiddler,"  said  the 
little  hare.    "  I  wish  I  could  learn  how  you  do  it." 

"  It's  easily  learned,"  answered  the  musician ;  "  just  do  ex- 
actly as  I  tell  you." 

"  That  I  will,"  said  the  hare.    "  You  will  find  me  a  most  at-    s£ 
tentive  pupil." 

They  went  on  a  bit  together,  till  they  came  to  a  thin  part 
of  the  wood,  where  they  found  an  aspen  tree  growing.  The 
musician  bound  a  long  cord  round  the  little  hare's  neck, 
the  other  end  of  which  he  fastened  to  the  tree. 

"Now,  my  merry  little  friend,"  said  the  musician,  "run 
twenty  times  round  the  tree." 


356  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

The  little  hare  obeyed,  and  when  it  had  run  twenty  times 
round  the  tree,  the  cord  had  twisted  itself  twenty  times  round 
the  trunk,  so  that  the  poor  little  beast  was  held  a  fast  pris- 
oner, and  it  might  bite  and  tear  as  much  as  it  liked,  it 
couldn't  free  itself,  and  the  cord  only  cut  its  tender  neck. 

"  Wait  there  till  I  return,"  said  the  musician,  and  went  on 
his  way. 

In  the  meantime  the  wolf  had  pulled  and  bitten  and 
scratched  at  the  stone,  till  at  last  he  succeeded  in  getting 
his  paws  out.  Full  of  anger,  he  hurried  after  the  musician, 
determined  when  he  met  him  to  tear  him  to  pieces.  When 
the  fox  saw  him  running  by,  he  called  out  as  loud  as  he  could : 

"  Brother  Wolf,  come  to  my  rescue ;  the  musician  has  de- 
ceived me,  too." 

The  wolf  pulled  the  branches  down,  bit  the  cord  in  two, 
and  set  the  fox  free.  So  they  went  on  their  way  together, 
both  vowing  vengeance  on  the  musician.  They  found  the 
poor  imprisoned  little  hare,  and  having  set  him  free  also, 
they  all  set  out  to  look  for  their  enemy. 

During  this  time  the  musician  had  once  more  played  his 
iddle,  and  had  been  more  fortunate  in  the  result.  The 
sounds  pierced  to  the  ears  of  a  poor  woodman,  who  instantly 
left  his  work,  and  with  his  hatchet  under  his  arm  cnme  to 
listen  to  the  music. 

"At  last  I've  got  a  proper  sort  of  companion,"  said  the 
musician,  "for  it  was  a  human  being  I  wanted  all  along, 
and  not  a  wild  animal." 

And  he  began  playing  so  enchantingly  that  the  poor  man 
stood  there  as  if  bewitched,  and  his  heart  leaped  for  joy  as 
he  listened. 

And  as  he  stood  thus,  the  wolf  and  fox  and  little  hare 
came  up,  and  the  woodman  saw  at  once  that  they  meant  mis- 
chief. He  lifted  his  glittering  ax  and  placed  himself  in 
front  of  the  musician,  as  much  as  to  say :  "  If  you  touch  a 
hair  of  his  head,  beware,  for  you  will  have  to  answer  for  it 
to  me." 

Then  the  beasts  were  frightened,  and  they  all  three  ran 
back  into  the  wood,  and  the  musician  played  the  woodman 
one  of  his  best  tunes,  by  way  of  thanks,  and  then  continued 
his  way. 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  357 


THE    STOKY    OF    SIGUKD* 

[This  is  a  very  old  story:  the  Danes  who  used  to  fight  with  the  English 
is  King  Alfred's  time  knew  this  story.  They  have  carved  on  the  rocks 
pictures  of  some  of  the  things  that  happen  in  the  tale,  and  those  carvings 
may  still  be  seen.  Because  it  is  so  old  and  so  beautiful  the  story  is  told 
here  again,  but  it  has  a  sad  ending — indeed  it  is  all  sad,  and  all  about 
fighting  and  killing,  as  might  be  expected  from  the  Danes.] 

Once  upon  a  time  there  was  a  king  in  the  north  who  had 
won  many  wars,  but  now  he  was  old.  Yet  he  took  a  new 
wife,  and  then  another  prince,  who  wanted  to  have  married 
her,  came  up  against  him  with  a  great  army.  The  old  king 
went  out  and  fought  bravely,  but  at  last  his  sword  broke, 
and  he  was  wounded  and  his  men  fled.  But  in  the  night, 
when  the  battle  was  over,  his  young  wife  came  out  and 
searched  for  him  among  the  slain,  and  at  last  she  found  him, 
and  asked  whether  he  might  be  healed.  But  he  said  "  No," 
his  luck  was  gone,  his  sword  was  broken,  and  he  must  die. 
And  he  told  her  that  she  would  have  a  son,  and  that  son 
would  be  a  great  warrior,  and  would  avenge  him  on  the 
other  king,  his  enemy.  And  he  bade  her  keep  the  broken 
pieces  of  the  sword,  to  make  a  new  sword  for  his  son,  and 
that  blade  should  be  called  Gram. 

Then  he  died.  And  his  wife  called  her  maid  to  her  and 
said :  "  Let  us  change  clothes,  and  you  shall  be  called  by  my 
name,  and  I  by  yours,  lest  the  enemy  find  us." 

So  this  was  done,  and  they  hid  in  a  wood,  but  there  some 
strangers  met  them  and  carried  them  off  in  a  ship  to  Den- 
mark. And  when  they  were  brought  before  the  king,  he 
thought  the  maid  looked  like  a  queen  and  the  queen  like  a 
maid.  So  he  asked  the  queen:  "How  do  you  know  in 
the  dark  of  night  whether  the  hours  of  night  are  wearing 
to  the  morning?" 

And  she  said: 

"  I  know  because,  when  I  was  younger,  I  used  to  have  to 
rise  and  light  the  fires,  and  still  I  waken  at  the  same  time." 

"A  strange  queen  to  light  the  fires,"  thought  the  king. 

Then  he  asked  the  queen,  who  was  dressed  like  a  maid: 
*  How  do  you  know  in  the  dark  of  night  whether  the  hours 
are  wearing  near  the  dawn  ? " 

♦The  Volsunga  Saga. 


358  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

"  My  father  gave  me  a  gold  ring,"  said  she,  "  and  always, 
ere  the  dawning,  it  grows  cold  on  my  finger." 

"  A  rich  house  where  the  maids  wore  gold,"  said  the  king. 
"  Truly  you  are  no  maid,  but  a  king's  daughter." 

So  he  treated  her  royally,  and  as  time  went  on  she  had  a 
son  called  Sigurd,  a  beautiful  boy  and  very  strong.  He  had 
a  tutor  to  be  with  him,  and  once  the  tutor  bade  him  go  to 
the  king  and  ask  for  a  horse. 

"  Choose  a  horse  for  yourself,"  said  the  king;  and  Sigurd 
went  to  the  wood,  and  there  he  met  an  old  man  with  a  white 
beard,  and  said :    "  Come !  help  me  in  horse-choosing." 

Then  the  old  man  said :  "  Drive  all  the  horses  into  the 
river,  and  choose  the  one  that  swims  across." 

So  Sigurd  drove  them,  and  only  one  swam  across.  Sigurd 
chose  him;  his  name  was  Grani,  and  he  came  of  Sleipnir's 
breed,  and  was  the  best  horse  in  the  world.  For  Sleipnir  was 
the  horse  of  Odin,  the  God  of  the  North,  and  was  as  swift  as 
the  wind. 

But  a  day  or  two  later  his  tutor  said  to  Sigurd :  "  There 
is  a  great  treasure  of  gold  hidden  not  far  from  here,  and 
it  would  become  you  to  win  it." 

But  Sigurd  answered :  "  I  have  heard  stories  of  that 
treasure,  and  I  know  that  the  dragon  Fafnir  guards  it,  and 
he  is  so  huge  and  wicked  that  no  man  dares  to  go  near 
him." 

"He  is  no  bigger  than  other  dragons,"  said  the  tutor, 
"  and  if  you  were  as  brave  as  your  father  you  would  not 
fear  him." 

"  I  am  no  coward,"  says  Sigurd ;  "  why  do  you  want  me  to 
fight  the  dragon  ?  " 

Then  his  tutor,  whose  name  was  Regin,  told  him  that  all 
this  great  hoard  of  gold  had  once  belonged  to  his  own 
father.  And  his  father  had  three  sons — the  first  was  Fafnir, 
the  dragon;  the  next  was  Otter,  who  could  put  on  the  shape 
of  an  otter  when  he  liked ;  and  the  next  was  himself,  Regin, 
and  he  was  a  great  smith  and  maker  of  swords. 

Now  there  was  at  that  time  a  dwarf  called  Andvari,  who 
lived  in  a  pool  beneath  a  waterfall,  and  there  he  had  hidden 
a  great  hoard  of  gold.  And  one  day  Otter  had  been  fishing 
there,  and  had  killed  a  salmon  and  eaten  it,  and  was  sleep- 
ing, like  an  otter,  on  a  stone.     Then  someone  came  by  and 


THE   RED    FAIRY   BOOK. 


359 


threw  a  stone  at  the  otter  and  killed  it,  and  flayed  off  the 
skin,  and  took  it  to  the  house  of  Otter's  father.  Then  he 
knew  his  son  was  dead,  and  to  punish  the  person  who  had 
killed  him  he  said  he  must  have  the  otter's  skin  filled  with 
gold,  and  covered  all  over  with  red  gold,  or  it  should  go  worse 
with  him.  Then  the  person  who  had  killed  Otter  went  down 
and  caught  the  dwarf  who  owned  all  the  treasure  and  took  it 
from  him. 

Only  one  ring  was  left,  which  the  dwarf  wore,  and  even 
that  was  taken  from  him. 

Then  the  poor  dwarf  was  very  angry,  and  he  prayed  that 


the  gold  might  never  bring  any  but  bad  luck  to  all  the  men 
*yho  might  own  it,  forever. 

Then  the  otter  skin  was  filled  with  gold  and  covered  with 
gold,  all  but  one  hair,  and  that  was  covered  with  the  poor 
dwarf's  last  ring. 

But  it  brought  good  luck  to  nobody.  First  Fafnir,  the 
dragon,  killed  his  own  father,  and  then  he  went  and  wal- 


360  THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

lowed  on  the  gold,  and  would  let  his  brother  have  none,  and 
no  man  dared  go  near  it. 

When  Sigurd  heard  the  story  he  said  to  Regin : 

"  Make  me  a  good  sword  that  I  may  kill  this  dragon." 

So  Regin  made  a  sword,  and  Sigurd  tried  it  with  a  blow 
on  a  lump  of  iron,  and  the  sword  broke. 

Another  sword  he  made,  and  Sigurd  broke  that  too. 

Then  Sigurd  went  to  his  mother,  and  asked  for  the  broken 
pieces  of  his  father's  blade,  and  gave  them  to  Regin.  And 
he  hammered  and  wrought  them  into  a  new  sword,  so  sharp 
that  fire  seemed  to  burn  along  its  edges. 

Sigurd  tried  this  blade  on  the  lump  of  iron,  and  it  did  not 
break,  but  split  the  iron  in  two.  Then  he  threw  a  lock  of 
wool  into  the  river,  and  when  it  floated  down  against  the 
sword  it  was  cut  into  two  pieces.  So  Sigurd  said  that  sword 
would  do.  But  before  he  went  against  the  dragon  he  led  an 
army  to  fight  the  men  who  had  killed  his  father,  and  he  slew 
their  king,  and  took  all  his  wealth,  and  went  home. 

When  he  had  been  at  home  a  few  days,  he  rode  out  with 
Regin  one  morning  to  the  heath  where  the  dragon  used  to 
lie.  Then  he  saw  the  track  which  the  dragon  made  when  he 
went  to  a  cliff  to  drink,  and  the  track  was  as  if  a  great  river 
had  rolled  along  and  left  a  deep  valley. 

Then  Sigurd  went  down  into  that  deep  place,  and  dug 
many  pits  in  it,  and  in  one  of  the  pits  he  lay  hidden  with  his 
sword  drawn.  There  he  waited,  and  presently  the  earth  be- 
gan to  shake  with  the  weight  of  the  dragon  as  he  crawled 
to  the  water.  And  a  cloud  of  venom  flew  before  him  as  he 
snorted  and  roared,  so  that  it  would  have  been  death  to  stand 
before  him. 

But  Sigurd  waited  till  half  of  him  had  crawled  over  the 
pit,  and  then  he  thrust  the  sword  Gram  right  into  his  very 
heart. 

Then  the  dragon  lashed  with  his  tail  till  stones  broke  and 
trees  crashed  about  him. 

Then  he  spoke,  as  he  died,  and  said : 

"Whoever  thou  art  that  has  slain  me,  this  gold  shall  be 
thy  ruin,  and  the  ruin  of  all  who  own  it." 

Sigurd  said: 

"I  would  touch  none  of  it  if  by  losing  it  I  should  never 
die.     But  all  men  die,  and  no  brave  man  lets  death  frighten 


THE   RED   FAIRY   BOOK. 


361 


him  from  his  desire.  Die  thou,  Fafnir,"  and  then  Fafnir 
died. 

And  after  that  Sigurd  was  called  Fafnir's  Bane,  and 
Dragon-slayer. 

Then  Sigurd  rode  back,  and  met  Regin,  and  Regin  asked 
him  to  roast  Fafnir's  heart  and  let  him  taste  of  it. 

So  Sigurd  put  the  heart  of  Fafnir  on  a  stake,  and  roasted 
it.     But  it  chanced  that  he  touched  it  with  his  finger,  and 


it  burned  him.  Then  he  put  his  finger  in  his  mouth,  and  so 
tasted  the  heart  of  Fafnir. 

Then  immediately  he  understood  the  language  of  birds, 
and  he  heard  the  woodpeckers  say: 

"  There  is  Sigurd  roasting  Fafnir's  heart  for  another, 
vhen  he  should  taste  of  it  himself  and  learn  all  wisdom." 

The  next  bird  said: 

"  There  lies  Regin,  ready  to  betray  Sigurd,  who  trusts 
him." 

The  third  bird  said: 

"Let  him  cut  off  Regin's  head,  and  keep  all  the  gold  to 
himself." 

The  fourth  bird  said : 


362  THE  BED  FAIRY  BOOK. 

"  That  let  him  do,  and  then  ride  over  Hindf ell,  to  the 
place  where  Brynhild  sleeps." 

When  Sigurd  heard  all  this,  and  how  Regin  was  plotting 
to  betray  him,  he  cut  off  Regin's  head  with  one  blow  of  the 
sword  Gram. 

Then  all  the  birds  broke  out  singing : 

u  We  know  a  fair  maid, 
A  fair  maiden  sleeping; 
Signrd,  be  not  afraid; 
Sigurd,  win  thou  the  maid 
Fortune  is  keeping. 

«'  High  over  Hindfell 
Red  fire  is  flaming, 
There  doth  the  maiden  dwell, 
She  that  should  love  thee  well, 
Meet  for  thy  taming. 

11  There  must  she  sleep  till  thou 
Comest  for  her  waking, 
Bise  up  and  ride,  for  now 
Sure  she  will  swear  the  vow 
Fearless  of  breaking." 

Then  Sigurd  remembered  how  the  story  went  that  some- 
where, far  away,  there  was  a  beautiful  lady  enchanted. 
She  was  under  a  spell,  so  that  she  must  always  sleep  in  a 
castle  surrounded  by  flaming  fire;  there  she  must  sleep  for- 
ever till  there  came  a  knight  who  would  ride  through  the 
fire  and  waken  her.  There  he  determined  to  go,  but  first  he 
rode  right  down  the  horrible  trail  of  Fafnir.  And  Fafnir 
had  lived  in  a  cave  with  iron  doors,  a  cave  dug  deep  down 
in  the  earth,  and  full  of  gold  bracelets,  and  crowns,  and 
rings;  and  there,  too,  Sigurd  found  the  helm  of  dread,  a 
golden  helmet,  and  whoever  wears  it  is  invisible.  All  these 
he  piled  on  the  back  of  the  good  horse  Grani,  and  then  he 
rode  south  to  Hindfell. 

Now  it  was  night,  and  01  the  crest  of  the  hill  Sigurd  saw 
a  red  fire  blazing  up  into  the  sky,  and  within  the  flame  a 
castle,  and  a  banner  on  the  topmost  tower.  Then  he  set 
the  horse  Grani  at  the  fire,  and  he  leaped  through  it  lightly, 
as  if  it  had  been  through  the  heather.  So  Sigurd  went 
within  the  castle  door,  and  there  he  saw  someone  sleeping, 
clad  all  in  armor.     Then  he  took  the  helmet  off  the  head  of 


THE   EED    FAIRY   BOOK. 


363 


the  sleeper,  and  behold,  she  was  a  most  beautiful  lady.  And 
she  wakened  and  said:  "Ah!  is  it  Sigurd,  Sigmund's  son, 
who  has  broken  the  curse,  and  comes  here  to  waken  me  at 
last?" 

This  curse  came  upon  her  when  the  thorn  of  the  tree  of 
sleep  ran  into  her  hand  long  ago  as  a  punishment  because 
she  had  displeased  Odin  the  god.     Long  ago,  too,  she  had 


rowed  never  to  marry  a  man  who  knew  fear,  and  dared  not 
ride  through  the  fence  of  flaming  fire.  For  she  was  a  war- 
rior maid  herself,  and  went  armed  into  the  battle  like  a  man. 
But  now  she  and  Sigurd  loved  each  other  and  promised  to 
be  true  to  each  other,  and  he  gave  her  a  ring,  and  it  was  the 
last  ring  taken  from  the  dwarf  Andvari.  Then  Sigurd  rode 
away,  and  he  came  to  the  house  of  a  king  who  had  a  fair 
daughter.  Her  name  was  Gudrun,  and  her  mother  was  a 
witch.    Now  Gudrun  fell  ia  love  with  Sigurd,  but  he  was 


364 


THE   RED    FAIRY    BOOK. 


always  talking  of  Brynhild,  how  beautiful  she  was  and  how 
dear.  So  one  day  Gudrun's  witch  mother  put  poppy  and 
forgetful  drugs  in  a  magical  cup,  and  bade  Sigurd  drink  to 
her  health,  and  he  drank,  and  instantly  he  forgot  poor  Bryn- 


hild and  he  loved  Gudrun,  and  they  were  married  with  great 
rejoicings. 

Now  the  witch,  the  mother  of  Gudrun,  wanted  her  son 
Gunnar  to  marry  Brynhild,  and  she  bade  him  ride  out  with 
Sigurd  and  go  and  woo  her.  So  forth  they  rode  to  her 
father's  house,  for  Brynhild  had  quite  gone  out  of  Sigurd's 
mind  by  reason  of  the  witch's  wine,  but  she  remembered 
him  and  loved  him  still.  Then  Brynhild's  father  told  Gun- 
nar that  she  would  marry  none  but  him  who  could  ride  the 


THE  RED  FAIRY  BOOK.  365 

in  front  of  her  enchanted  tower,  and  thither  they  rode, 
and  Gunnar  set  his  horse  at  the  flame,  but  he  would  not  face 
it.  Then  Gunnar  tried  Sigurd's  horse  Grani,  but  he  would 
not  move  with  Gunnar  on  his  back.  Then  Gunnar  remem- 
bered witchcraft  that  his  mother  had  taught  him,  and  "by 
his  magic  he  made  Sigurd  look  exactly  like  himself,  and  he 
looked  exactly  like  Gunnar.  Then  Sigurd,  in  the  shape  of 
Gunnar  and  in  his  mail,  mounted  on  Grani,  and  Grani 
leaped  the  fence  of  fire,  and  Sigurd  went  in  and  found 
Brynhild,  but  he  did  not  remember  her  yet,  because  of  the 
forgetful  medicine  in  the  cup  of  the  witch's  wine. 

Now  Brynhild  had  no  help  but  to  promise  she  would  be 
his  wife,  the  wife  of  Gunnar  as  she  supposed,  for  Sigurd 
wore  Gunnar's  shape  and  she  had  sworn  to  wed  whoever 
should  ride  the  flames.  And  he  gave  her  a  ring,  and  she 
gave  him  back  the  ring  he  had  given  her  before  in  his  own 
shape  as  Sigurd,  and  it  was  the  last  ring  of  that  poor  dwarf 
Andvari.  Then  he  rode  out  again,  and  he  and  Gunnar 
changed  shapes,  and  each  was  himself  again,  and  they  went 
home  to  the  witch  queen's,  and  Sigurd  gave  the  dwarf's  ring 
to  his  wife,  Gudrun.  And  Brynhild  went  to  her  father,  and 
said  that  a  king  had  come  called  Gunnar,  and  had  ridden 
the  fire,  and  she  must  marry  him.  "Yet  I  thought,"  she 
said,  "that  no  man  could  have  done  this  deed  but  Sigurd, 
Fafnir's  bane,  who  was  my  true  love.  But  he  has  forgotten 
me,  and  my  promise  I  must  keep." 

So  Gunnar  and  Brynhild  were  married,  though  it  was  not 
Gunnar,  but  Sigurd  in  Gunnar's  shape,  that  had  ridden  the 
fire. 

And  when  the  wedding  was  over  and  all  the  feast,  then 
the  magic  of  the  witch's  wine  went  out  of  Sigurd's  brain, 
and  he  remembered  all.  He  remembered  how  he  had  freed 
Brynhild  from  the  spell,  and  how  she  was  his  own  true  love, 
and  how  he  had  forgotten  and  had  married  another  woman, 
and  won  Brynhild  to  be  the  wife  of  another  man. 

But  he  was  brave,  and  he  spoke  not  a  word  of  it  to  the 
others  to  make  them  unhappy.  Still  he  could  not  keep  away 
the  curse  which  was  to  come  on  everyone  who  owned  the 
treasure  of  the  dwarf  Andvari,  and  his  fatal  golden  ring. 

And  the  curse  soon  came  upon  all  of  them.  For  one  day, 
Crhcn  Brynhild  and  Gudrun  were  bathing,  Brynhild  waded 


366 


THE    RED    FAIRY    BOOK. 


furthest  out  into  the  river,  and  said  she  did  that  to  show  she 
was  Gudrun's  superior.  For  her  husband,  she  said,  had  rid- 
den through  the  flame  when  no  other  man  dared  face  it. 

Then  Gudrun  was  very  angry,  and  said  that  it  was  Sigurd, 
not  Gunnar,  who  had  ridden  the  flame,  and  had  received 
from  Brynhild  that  fatal  ring,  the  ring  of  the  dwarf 
Andvari. 

Then  Brynhild  saw  the  ring  which  Sigurd  had  given  to 
Gudrun,  and  she  knew  it  and  knew  all,  and  she  turned  as 
pale  as  a  dead  woman,  and  went  home.    All  that  evening  she 


never  spoke.  Next  day  she  told  Gunnar,  her  husband,  that 
he  was  a  coward  and  a  liar,  for  he  had  never  ridden  the 
flame,  but  had  sent  Sigurd  to  do  it  for  him,  and  pretended 
that  he  had  done  it  himself.  And  she  said  he  would  never 
see  her  glad  in  his  hall,  never  drinking  wine,  never  playing 
chess,  never  embroidering  with  the  golden  thread,  never 
speaking  words  of  kindness.  Then  she  rent  all  her  needle- 
work asund«r  and  wept  aloud,  so  that  everyone  in  the  house 
heard  her.     For  her  heart  was  broken,  and  her  pride  wag 


THE   RED    FAIRY   BOOK.  ™* 

broken  in  the  same  hour.  She  had  lost  her  true  love,  Sigurd, 
the  slayer  of  Fafnir,  and  she  was  married  to  a  man  who  was 
a  liar. 

Then  Sigurd  came  and  tried  to  comfort  her,  but  she  would 
not  listen,  and  said  she  wished  the  sword  stood  fast  in  his 
heart. 

"  Not  long  to  wait,"  he  said,  "  till  the  bitter  sword  stands 
fast  in  my  heart,  and  thou  wilt  not  live  long  when  I  am 
dead.  But,  dear  Brynhild,  live  and  be  comforted,  and  love 
Gunnar  thy  husband,  and  I  will  give  thee  all  the  gold,  the 
treasure  of  the  dragon  Fafnir." 

Brynhild  said: 

"  It  is  too  late." 

Then  Sigurd  was  so  grieved  and  his  heart  so  swelled  in 
his  breast  that  it  burst  the  steel  rings  of  his  shirt  of  mail. 

Sigurd  went  out  and  Brynhild  determined  to  slay  him. 
She  mixed  serpent's  venom  and  wolf's  flesh,  and  gave  them 
in  one  dish  to  her  husband's  younger  brother,  and  when  he 
had  tasted  them  he  was  mad,  and  he  went  into  Sigurd's 
chamber  while  he  slept  and  pinned  him  to  the  bed  with  a 
sword.  But  Sigurd  woke,  and  caught  the  sword  Gram  in 
his  hand,  and  threw  it  at  the  man  as  he  fled,  and  the  sword 
cut  him  in  twain.  Thus  died  Sigurd,  Fafnir's  bane,  whom 
no  ten  men  could  have  slain  in  fair  fight.  Then  Gudrun 
wakened  and  saw  him  dead,  and  she  moaned  aloud,  and 
Brynhild  heard  her  and  laughed;  but  the  kind  horse  Grani 
lay  down  and  died  of  very  grief.  And  then  Brynhild  fell 
a-weeping  till  her  heart  broke.  So  they  attired  Sigurd  in 
all  his  golden  armor,  and  built  a  great  pile  of  wood  on  board 
his  ship,  and  at  night  laid  on  it  the  dead  Sigurd  and  the 
dead  Brynhild,  and  the  good  horse  Grani,  and  set  fire  to  it, 
and  launched  the  ship.  And  the  wind  bore  it  blazing  out  to 
sea,  flaming  into  the  dark.  So  there  were  Sigurd  and  Bryn- 
hild burned  together,  and  the  curse  of  the  dwarf  Andvari 
was  fulfilled. 


THE  CHILDREN'S 

CRIMSON  SERIES 


May  be  had  wherever  books  are  sold.     Ask  for  Grosset  &  Danlap's  list 

The  Editors;  and  What  the  Children's 
Crimson  Series  Offers  Your  Child 

IN  THE  first  place,  "The  Children's  Crimson  Series"  is  designed 
to  please  and  interest  every  child,  by  reason  of  the  sheer  fascina- 
tion of  the  stories  and  poems  contained  therein. 

To  accomplish  such  an  end,  a  vast  amount  of  patient  labor,  a  rare 
judgment,  a  life-long  study  of  children,  and  a  genuine  love  for  all 
that  is  best  in  literature,  are  essential  factors  of  success. 

Kate  Douglas  Wiggin  (Mrs.  Riggs)  and  Nora  Archibald  Smith 
possess  these  qualities  and  this  experience.  Their  efforts,  as  pioneers 
of  kindergarten  work,  the  love  and  admiration  in  which  their  works 
are  held  by  all  young  people,  prove  them  to  be  in  full  sympathy  with 
this  unique  piece  of  work. 

Let  all  parents,  who  wish  their  little  ones  to  have  their  minds  and 
tastes  developed  along  the  right  paths,  remember  that  once  a  child  is 
interested  and  amused,  the  rest  is  comparatively  easy.  Stories  and 
poems  so  admirably  selected,  cannot  then  but  sow  the  seeds  of  a  real 
literary  culture,  which  must  be  encouraged  in  childhood  if  it  is  ever 
to  exercise  a  real  influence  in  life. 


Edited  by  Kate  Douglas  Wiggin  and  Nora  Archibald  Smith 

THE  FAIRY  RING:    Fairy  Tales  for  Children  4  to  8 
MAGIC  CASEMENTS:    Fairy  Tales  for  Children  6  to  12 
TALES  OF  LAUGHTER:    Fairy  Tales  for  Growing  Boys  and  Girls 
TALES  OF  WONDER:    Fairy  Tales  that  Make  One  I Fonder 
PINAFORE  PALACE:     Rhymes  and  Jingles  for  Tiny  Tots 
THE  POSY  RING:     Verses  and  Poems  that  Children  Love  and  Learn 
GOLDEN  NUMBERS:     Verses  and  Poem>  for  Ch  Idren  and  Grown-ups 
THE  TALKING  BEASTS:    Birds  and  Beasts  in  Fable 

Edited  by  Asa  Don  Dickinson 
CHRISTMAS  STORIES:    "Read  Us  a  Story  About  Christmas" 

Edited  by  Mary  E.  Burt  and  W.  T.  CnArm 
STORIES  AND  POEMS  FROM  KIPLING:     "How  the  Camel  Got  His  Hump,* 

and  other  Stories. 

Grosset  &  Dunlap,  Publishers,  New  York 


THE    EVERY    CHILD 
SHOULD   KNOW   SERIES 

May  be  had  wherever  books  are  sold.      Ask  for  Grosset  &  Dunlap's  list 


BIRDS  EVERY  CHILD  SHOULD  KNOW 

By  Neltje  Blanchan.     Illustrated 

EARTH  AND  SKY  EVERY  CHILD  SHOULD  KNOW 

By  Julia  Ellen  Rogers.     Illustrated 

ESSAYS  EVERY  CHILD  SHOULD  KNOW 

Edited  by  Hamilton  W.  Mabie 

FAIRY  TALES  EVERY  CHILD  SHOULD  KNOW 

Edited  by  Hamilton  W.  Mabie 

FAMOUS  STORIES  EVERY  CHILD  SHOULD  KNOW 

Edited  by  Hamilton  W.  Mabis 

FOLK  TALES  EVERY  CHILD  SHOULD  KNOW 

Edited  by  Hamilton  W.  Mabie 

HEROES  EVERY  CHILD  SHOULD  KNOW 

Edited  by  Hamilton  W.  Mabie 

HEROINES  EVERY  CHILD  SHOULD  KNOW 

Coedited  by  Hamilton  W.  Mabw  ind  Kate  Stephss* 

HYMNS  EVERY  CHILD  SHOULD  KNOW 

Edited  by  Dolores  Bacon 

LEGENDS  EVERY  CHILD  SHOULD  KNOW 

Edited  by  Hamilton  W.  Mabib 

MYTHS  EVERY  CHILD  SHOULD  KNOW 

Edited  by  Hamilton  W.  Mabib 

OPERAS  EVERY  CHILD  SHOULD  KNOW 

By  Dolores  Bacon.    Illustrated 

PICTURES  EVERY  CHILD  SHOULD  KNOW  ) 

By  Dolores  Bacon.    Illustrated 

POEMS  EVERY  CHILD  SHOULD  KNOW 

Edited  by  Mary  E.  Burt 

PROSE  EVERY  CHILD  SHOULD  KNOW 

Edited  by  Mary  E.  Burt 

SONGS  EVERY  CHILD  SHOULD  KNOW 

Edited  by  Dolores  Bacon 

TREES  EVERY  CHILD  SHOULD  KNOW 

By  Julia  Ellen  Rogers.    Illustrated 

WATER  WONDERS  EVERY  CHILD  SHOULD  KNOW" 

By  Jean  M.  Thompson.     Illustrated 

WILD  ANIMALS  EVERY  CHILD  SHOULD  KNOW 

By  Julia  Ellen  Rogers.    Illustrated 

WILD  FLOWERS  EVERY  CHILD  SHOULD  KNOW 

By  Frederic  William  Stajk.    Illustrated 

=  r— — — x 

Grosset  &  Dunlap,  Publishers,  New  Yor* 


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